4 Newspapers Face “Terrorism Propaganda” Investigation

An investigation has been launched against Hürriyet, Cumhuriyet, Posta and Bugün newspapers for publishing the photos of Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz during Istanbul Courthouse hostage crisis on Tuesday. 

The investigation was launched upon charged related to Anti-Terror Act (TMK) Article 7/2 regarding “terrorist organization propaganda”. 

On the same day of the incident, the Prime Minister’s Office imposed a temporary media ban on the coverage regarding the taking hostage of prosecutor  Mehmet Selim Kiraz. 

The ban was imposed according to Higher Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) Law Article 7 that said the following: “In the conditions where national security is openly needed or public order is seriously challenged, Prime Minister or his appointed minister can impose a media ban.”

It was claimed that some news channels preferred not to cover the late night breaking news on the hostage crisis operation. They chose to cover on the media ban instead.

On the other hand, Ece Aydın, reporter at BirGün and Yol TV, has been detained the same night while reporting from Istanbul Courthouse hostage crisis. 

On April 1, Prime Minister’s Office barred several newspapers and TV channels from attending the funeral ceremony of Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz.

“Broadcasting towards helping terror organizations to reach their goals. Prevent the public outrage against those media outlets that don’t show a clear stance towards the terror organization,” PM’s Office and Interior Ministry said in a statement. 

The list of those barred media outlets were as follows: Hürriyet, Cumhuriyet, Bugün, Milat, Taraf and Zaman newspapers as well as CNN Türk, Bugün TV, Kanaltürk, İMC TV; Samanyolu TV, Cihan News Agency and Doğan News Agency. 

According to BIA Media Monitoring Report released on March 4, a local court has convicted 1 journalist to a prison sentence of 16 years and 3 months of prison due to charges from TMK. The case is now pending at Court of Cessation. (EÖ/BM) 

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.