Turkey Cannot Defend Record On Press Freedom

Journalists and activists participate in a rally calling for press freedom in central Ankara March 19, 2011. The recent arrest and jailing of some 10 journalists as part of investigations into Ergenekon, an ultra-nationalist, secularist network opposed to Prime Minister's Tayyip Erdogan's rule, has a triggered expressions of concern from the European Union, the U.S. and human rights groups about Ankara's commitment to media freedom and democratic principles. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: CIVIL UNREST — Journalists and activists participate in a rally calling for press freedom in central Ankara, March 19, 2011. — REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Turkey holds a notorious world “championship” title: it's the country that keeps the largest number of journalists behind bars. And no one in the world no longer questions whether Turkey is being done injustice.

All major international groups advocating press freedoms agree that Turkey fully deserves the championship in imprisoning journalists.

Most recently, the World Press Freedom Index 2013, released by the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), listed Turkey among the worst offenders, ranking it 154th among 170 countries. Thus, Turkey fell six places down the ladder compared to last year.

The RSF said Turkey is “currently the world’s biggest prison for journalists” and that the imprisoned journalists include “especially those who express views critical of the authorities on the Kurdish issue.”

Turkey Cannot Defend Record On Press Freedom

Kadri Gursel writes that by criminalizing any press article that seems sympathetic to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), the Turkish government worsens its image as a leading violator of press freedom.

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