View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
August 1, 2016

Campaign calls for solidarity with Turkish journalists to help stop country’s ongoing media crackdown

By Freddy Mayhew

The European and International Federation of Journalists have launched a joint campaign to try to stop the media crackdown in Turkey that has resulted from last month’s failed military coup.

It calls on supporters to show solidarity with journalists facing persecution in Turkey by sending a letter to the Turkish ambassador in their country and signing and sharing an Amnesty International petition calling on President Erdogan to uphold human rights in the country.

Supporters can also help by sharing the #JournalismIsNotACrime hashtag on social media and optionally contributing to the IFJ Safety Fund.

So far 57 journalists and media owners have been detained since the failed coup, according to the IFJ, with 89 arrest warrants issued.

Content from our partners
AI challenge asks journalists to pitch for help to solve industry challenges
Newsrooms 2.0: Why WordPress is taking over the industry
Handelsblatt's key strategy for unifying print and digital operations

Last week the Turkish government issued a decree ordering the closure of 131 media organisations, including three news agencies, 16 television channels, 23 radio stations, 45 daily newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishing houses.

The National Union of Journalists has given its backing to the campaign and has itself called on the Turkish ambassador in London to receive a delegation from the union to discuss the violation of press freedom and the arrests of journalists in Turkey.

In a letter to the ambassador, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “I am writing to express our deepest concerns at the unprecedented clampdown on media in Turkey and to urge your government to reverse the widespread attacks targeting journalists and media outlets in the country.”

Together with the IFJ, the NUJ said it was reporting the press freedom violations to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism.

Under the state of emergency, declared by President Erdogan following the coup attempt, Turkish authorities can hold suspects in detention without charge for 30 days.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network