Media Association: Legal Reform Essential for Press Freedom

According to the Media Association, the World Press Freedom Day on 3 May does not only carry importance for journalists, but for the Turkish society as a whole. "A press which is freer, more independent and of better quality will improve the quality of democracy in our country and our standard of living", the association stated.

The Media Association reminded the observations of Freedom House, a monitoring organization based in the USA, saying that press freedom declined in almost all parts of the world during the last year. Freedom House furthermore ascertained that press freedom has been constantly on the decline during the past eight years.

Media Association: Many journalists on trial

The association sees Turkey as one of a number of semi-free countries, referring to the world press freedom index where Turkey currently ranks on position no. 108 among a total of 196 countries. "According to reports from the IMF, World Bank and the CIA, Turkey's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranges on rank 14 on a global scale. Yet, it is clear that the economic performance is not reflected as far as press freedom is concerned", the Media Association pointed out.

Data compiled by the UNESCO revealed that 12 journalists were killed on duty worldwide during the first four months of the year 2010. The association emphasized that a total of 48 journalists were killed in the previous year, including Turkish journalists Cihan Hayırsevener, then publishing director of the Güney Marmara Yaşam newspaper. The most dangerous countries for journalists as listed by the UNESCO are Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Congo, Somalia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Media Association furthermore mentioned the lengthy procedure of the trial regarding the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in January 2007, which has been the reason for several discussions. "Unfortunately, many journalists are currently being tried in Turkey in various cases. These cases result in monetary fines or prison sentences for the journalists".

The association indicated that Turkish journalists such as Nazlı Ilıcak, Şamil Tayyar, Sevilay Yükselir, Hüseyin Kocabıyık and Ahmet Can Karahasanoğlu were convicted.

"This kind of countless examples illustrate that legal amendments are needed in order to remove obstacles before press freedom. In this respect, especially liberal regulations as enforced in the countries of the European Union and case law in favour of press freedom should be considered".

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression"

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers".

Based on this right, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day, supported by initiatives of the international organization of Reporters without Borders (RSF). The day furthermore marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek (Namibia), a statement of free press principles worked out by African newspaper journalists at a conference entitled "Development of an Independent and Pluralistic African Press" in 1991. (EÖ/VK)