Journalists, trade unions and democratic organisations took to the streets across Turkey today to protest against mounting censorship, the detention and imprisonment of journalists, and government interference in media organisations. Under the slogan “No to censorship, freedom for the news”, demonstrations in ten cities called for an end to repression and defended the public’s right to know.
The protests were organised by a coalition of press freedom and journalists’ organisations, including the Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS), the Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC), DİSK Press Workers’ Union (DİSK Basın-İş), the Press Council, Haber-Sen and the Progressive Journalists’ Association (ÇGD). They were supported by political parties, trade unions, professional bodies and other democratic organisations.
In Istanbul, journalists and supporters gathered chanting slogans including “The free press cannot be silenced” and “Journalists in prison, those who fund them free”. The demonstration took place amid growing concern over the imprisonment of journalists, the appointment of government trustees to media organisations, and restrictions on news websites and social media accounts. The protests also marked one year since a government-appointed trustee was installed at the television channel TELE1.
At the rally, Gökhan Durmuş, president of the Turkish Journalists’ Union, read a joint statement on behalf of the participating press organisations. Durmuş condemned a system in which journalism is treated as a crime, news as a threat and the truth as something to be suppressed. He warned that journalists and others who challenge those in power face censorship, pressure and punishment.
He stressed that journalism must serve the public, not the government or big business. Reporting on workers’ struggles, violence against women, young people’s demands, poverty, corruption allegations and the misuse of public resources is a fundamental public responsibility.
The demonstrations were part of a wider wave of protests taking place simultaneously in ten cities, including Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Eskişehir, Kocaeli and Van.
Journalists and their supporters demanded the release of imprisoned journalists, an end to judicial pressure on reporting, the removal of government-appointed trustees from media organisations, the lifting of unlawful restrictions on news websites and social media accounts, and fair distribution of public advertising revenue.
These demands go far beyond the rights of journalists alone. When reporters are imprisoned for their work, media outlets are brought under political control and news is censored, the whole population is denied access to information. The ability to expose corruption, scrutinise those in power and give a voice to workers and oppressed communities is essential to any functioning democracy.
The targeting of journalists reporting on workers’ resistance, women’s rights, the struggles of LGBTİ+ people and the concerns of young people also demonstrates how the restriction of press freedom threatens wider democratic and social movements.
SPOT stands in solidarity with all those in Turkey who are resisting censorship and defending democratic rights. The right to report, investigate, criticise the government and hold powerful interests to account must be protected.
The struggle for press freedom is inseparable from the struggle for trade union rights, social justice and democracy. Independent journalism helps expose exploitation, give visibility to workers’ struggles and ensure that the voices of those most affected by government policies are heard.
We call on trade unions, MPs, campaigners and democratic organisations in Britain to stand with journalists in Turkey, raise awareness of the attacks on independent media and demand an end to the repression of those who speak out.
We stand with journalists, trade unionists and all those fighting for a free press and a democratic Turkey.