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Turkey ranks second after China in jailing journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) annual global survey, released yesterday.
According to the report, although the number of journalists arrested in Turkey has decreased since a coup attempt on July 15, 2016, authorities continue to arrest critical journalists and their lawyers. The report says that all jailed journalists face similar charges, such as working against the state.
In its annual global survey, CPJ found at least 274 journalists jailed in connection with their work as of December 1, 2020, surpassing the peak of 272 in 2016. China, which arrested several journalists for their coverage of the pandemic, was the worst jailer in the world for the second year in a row. Turkey followed.
CPJ’s annual global survey said 37 journalists were arrested in Turkey this year alone. According to the Stockholm Freedom Center’s “Jailed and Wanted Journalists in Turkey” database, there are currently 174 journalists behind bars in Turkey, while 167 are wanted and are in exile or remain at large.
Turkey experienced a controversial military coup attempt on the night of July 15, 2016, which many say was a false flag intended to entrench the authoritarian rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by rooting out dissidents and eliminating powerful actors such as the army. in his country. desire for absolute power.
The failed coup killed 251 people and injured more than a thousand. Immediately after the attempt, the government declared a state of emergency and suspended many fundamental rights and freedoms. One hundred and sixty-four media outlets were shut down without due process and dozens of journalists were arrested on charges related to the coup.
CPJ’s report also underscored that in Turkey judicial proceedings were suspended for three months in 2020, prolonging prison for detainees and anxiety for those released pending trial.
The report specifically mentions the cases of three journalists from the Mesopotamia News Agency (MA) who were arrested for their news that covered the story of two Kurdish villagers who were allegedly tortured by the Turkish army.
According to CPJ, journalists have been severely affected by the pandemic around the world, as governments have seized it as an opportunity to intensify their repression. “The number of journalists jailed around the world for their work reached a new record in 2020 when governments cracked down on coverage of COVID-19 or attempted to suppress reports of political unrest,” he said.
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