The free press cannot be blocked! News. Last Minute EUROPE, CURRENT headlines and events

The European Turkish Journalists’ Association (ATGB) issued a press statement against the government’s crackdown on journalists who reported the helplessness of earthquake victims. The statement said: “The government should use the time and effort it spends to block the press and communications to help earthquake victims.” it was said.

After the earthquakes that hit 10 provinces in Turkey centered on Kahramanmaras, the inadequacy of search and rescue operations left the earthquake victims helpless. Thanks to social media campaigns, a lot of support was given to earthquake-affected regions.

On the other hand, journalists who tried to be the voice of the earthquake victims were persecuted.

ATGB, in its press release on the matter, said: “In the greatest tragedy of the last century that our country has experienced, freedom of communication is being ignored.” used phrases.

The statement included the following:

The free press cannot be blocked!

Journalists who report the truth and address the concerns of the people of the region cannot be threatened, hindered or punished in any way.

The government should use the time and effort it spends on preventing press and communication to help those affected by the earthquake.

As the European Association of Turkish Journalists (ATGB), which has members from 23 European countries, we note with regret that during the catastrophe of the century that occurred in Turkey, instead of peace, tolerance, brotherhood and solidarity, anger, discrimination and hate speech came to the fore plan.

Our colleagues in Turkey, who serve the community by reporting the pain and destruction caused by the earthquake and the needs of the citizens, face a thousand and one obstacles that are unimaginable. The pro-government media, on the other hand, forget about the responsibility of the media to inform the public and tell the truth, and set themselves the task of eclipsing it with their press and television. As ATGB, we see that the concept of “Ethical Journalism” that we championed in our successful Day of Working Journalists organization in Brussels, unfortunately, was not realized during the tragedy of the earthquake that we experienced.
The pro-media do this for four days and hide the facts from the public. This is a communication hijack.

Ignoring the freedom of communication in the greatest tragedy of the last century that our country has experienced.

We cannot be silent when these rights are limited, when we most need fellowship and fellowship. The government, whose duty it is to pull our citizens out of the rubble and meet their basic needs, must immediately stop threatening and blocking journalists who report the truth and focus on solving urgent problems.

While the issue of telephone and internet, which are vital to earthquake victims, has not been resolved, a reduction in range has been applied to Twitter, citing news and messages from some of our colleagues. It has been brought to the public’s attention that media broadcasts are being blocked by RTÜK.

Journalists who report the truth and address the concerns of the people of the region cannot be threatened, hindered or punished in any way.
The government should use the time and effort it spends on preventing press and communication to help those affected by the earthquake.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the European Association of Turkish Journalists (ATGB)

President Rekai Aksu