New regulation aimed at cornering opposition media financially
After having shut-down several media outlets, AKP has recently decided on new regulations that would corner media institutions financially. According to these new regulations, newspapers that release reports that are in opposition to the interests of the ruling party would face the risk of losing their eligibility for ‘official ads endorsement’ before the pending legal cases are finalized. Lawyer of the Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) Gökhan Küçük asserted that these ‘new regulations must be called off.’
UĞUR ŞAHİN
ugursahin@birgun.net / @uugurs
Not slowing down its crackdown on media since the July 15 coup attempt, AKP government has now issued new regulations that target free media on financial grounds. Changing the Media Advertisement Institution regulations, AKP has now made the sharing of official ads among newspapers based on arbitrary decision. As the government has been aiming to create a system of ‘one-type newspapers’, it has now ordered for journalists against whom a criminal suit has been filed – on crimes against constitution and terror crimes – to be fired from the positions. And, the executives of newspapers get threatened with a cut-down on financial endorsements which they normally get through official ads.
‘Fire your reporters; then, get your ad’
In the new regulation, where there is a term about the requirement to fire journalists against whom a criminal case (on crimes against constitution and terror crimes) has been filed, the following statements have been included: “In case a professional staff member has been filed a suit against on crimes indicated, that person gets dismissed from his/her position within 5 days of official notice… Otherwise, the newspaper would be banned from publishing…”
Legal consultant Gökhan Küçük: ‘The ruling party does not want any opposition’
Making comments on the new regulation to BirGün, the legal consultant of Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) Gökhan Küçük emphasized that these regulations were against the Constitution and underlined that the opposition forces were being tried to silenced. Küçük said: “With these regulations, it is seen that the ruling party does not want to see anyone opposing itself. The new regulations are not only bad in terms of legal aspects but they are also against the items in the Constitution on right to work and press freedom… The new regulations must be called off by the Danıştay (Council of State). However, unfortunately, until this repealing process is completed, it stays in force…”
Reaction from Turkish Journalists’ Associations
The Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGS) has released a writing statement: “The item with regards to interference with the eligibility of newspapers to get financially endorsed through official ads is in itself the proof that certain newspapers will indeed get their endorsements cut. Having shut-down numerous media institutions that are in opposition – based on decrees passed under state of emergency –, AKP has now enforced regulations that are aimed at wearing out these kinds of institutions financially and finally silencing them completely. The purpose behind this new regulation is to take away the right of each newspaper in opposition for receiving ‘official ads’ and to transfer its endorsements to other newspapers that are pro-government. As the Turkish Journalists’ Association, we remind that the adjustments in the regulations are against principle of equality; we demand it to be called off immediately!”
Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/basinin-kalbine-hancer-saplandi-130462.html