Journalist Şener Awarded -Turkish Government Condemned

On the occasion of its 60^th anniversary, the International Press Institute (IPI) rewarded 60 journalists from all over the world as "Press Heroes", among them also the Turkish journalist Nedim Şener, reporter for the nation-wide Milliyet daily.

Ten years ago, on the 50^th anniversary of the organization, the IPI had awarded Turkish journalist Abdi İpekçi, who was killed in 1979, as one of the first 50 World Press Freedom Heroes. The additional ten heroes were selected by an international IPI jury in the course of the past ten years. Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was added to the list in 2006. Assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was selected in 2007, the year of his death.

In an announcement issued from the IPI Centre in Vienna, Austria, on 14 September, the Institute published the names of another eight journalists selected as World Press Freedom Heroes: Lasantha Wickremantunge, deceased editor of the Sri Lankan daily Sunday Leader; May Chidiac, Lebanese journalist and television anchor; Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho; Pap Saine from Gambia; Iranian investigative journalist Akbar Ganji; Yoani Sanchez from Cuba; deceased South-African editor Laurence Gandar and Nedim Şener.

Şener is the third laureate of this award in Turkey. He was declared a World Press Freedom Hero following the publication of his book on the Hrant Dink murder. The trial opened against the journalist on the grounds of his book is still pending. He was awarded for "his commitment to freedom of thought and expression, his determination and courage".

Şener attended the award ceremony on Tuesday at the historic Vienna City Hall. In his speech he said, "Hrant Dink struggled his whole life for becoming a citizen with equal rights in Turkey. The state made him a target. They took no precautionary measures for the safety of his life. Eventually, he was murdered".

Şener argued that the state, not having been able to save Dink's life, protected the positions of everyone who was involved in this crime. He continued:

"Not only his right to life was taken away from him, but his rights were violated even after the assassination. Evidence was concealed by the gendarmerie, the police and intelligence officials. They misinformed the courts. This murder is the key to all unsolved murders. Without the clarification of this case, neither justice nor democracy will be possible in Turkey. I will not be a hero but I will always be a fighter for press freedom".

One acquittal, two trials pending

Three trials were opened against Şener on the grounds of his book "The Dink Murder and the Lies of the Intelligence". One case resulted in the journalist's acquittal, the other two trials are still pending. The plaintiffs are the police officers who were confirmed in the report of the Prime Ministry Inspection Board to have neglected their duty related to the murder.

Şener was acquitted of charges of "obtaining confidential documents", "publishing confidential documents" and "identifying officials on anti-terrorist duties as targets". He was facing up to 20 years behind bars in the scope of the latter trial. However, in the other two cases the journalist is still facing prison sentences of up to 12.5 years in total.

Call from IPI General Assembly

Meeting at their 59^th Annual General Assembly on 13 September in Vienna, IPI members unanimously passed a number of resolutions regarding press freedom in different countries. The IPI also condemned the continued imprisonment in Turkey of dozens of journalists and called on the Turkish authorities to release all journalists jailed because of their work. "IPI calls on the Turkish authorities to abolish articles in the Turkish Penal Code, Press Law and Anti-Terror Law, which threaten imprisonment and disproportionate penalties for the media. IPI hopes that the government will honour its pledge that recent constitutional changes will facilitate the process". (EÖ/VK)