Turkish soprano Leyla Gencer, one of the great opera singers of the 20th century, died of heart failure at her home in the Italian city last Friday. Her last wish was that her ashes be scattered over the Bosphorus.  via Radio Netherlands Wereldomroep

Administrative Board of Turkey’s Journalists Association (TGC) condemned Nuh Gönültaş, a columnist in daily Bugün, for his discriminatory treatment of the world famous opera singer Leyla Gencer:

“We read with regret the article, where the columnist violates the professional principles of journalism by engaging in religious and racial discrimination.”

Yesterday (May 14) Gönültaş used the following expressions in his article entitled “Which religion was Leyla Gencer from?”.   

“Leyla Gencer was from a social group that is defined ethnically as a minority group in Turkey. This is certainly not a crime and for those who think it is crime, one should say  ‘it is of course not her fault’. (…) Gencer was a foreigner who could not bring herself to living in her country and interact with her own culture. She had chosen İtaly to reap the benefits of her Church-music-related profession. (…) This personality which devoted herself to Jesus wants her ashes to be scattered over Ortaköy [where the European pillars of the Bosphorus bridge in İstanbul are]. Your ashes should stay in İtaly, too. Why are you polluting our water?”  

“A journalist cannot target an individual because of her/his faith”

TCG emphasized in its press release that these kinds of articles and expressions bring more harm than good, reminding Gönültaş the third article of TGC’s Declaration of  Rights and Responsibilities:

“Beginning with peace, democracy and human rights, a journalist defends the universal values of humanity, multiculturalism, and respect towards differences. S/he recognizes the rights and respectability of all nations, all peoples, and all individuals without engaging in discrimination based on nation, race, ethnicity, sex, language, religion, class and philosophical belief. S/he abstains from sort of publication that provokes hatred and hostility between humans, communities and nations. S/he cannot make the cultural values and beliefs (or non-beliefs) of a nation, a community, and individuals a subject of direct attack. A journalist cannot publish material that provokes, incites and justifies any sort of violence.”

The owner of Bugün, the Koza Group, made the headlines by buying the TV channel Kanaltürk. (GG/TB)