Criminal prosecution of journalists in Turkey violates human right to free expression, says OSCE media freedom representative | WPN World People News

Convictions and severe sentences handed down to dozens of journalists and writers violate Turkey’s commitments to free speech and independent media, OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović said.

“I am deeply alarmed by convictions and harsh sentences that are of unprecedented length and severity in the entire OSCE region. Criminal prosecution of those with dissenting views violates the fundamental human right to free expression and the country’s OSCE commitments to develop and protect free media,” Mijatović said.

Verdicts and sentences for aiding or membership of an alleged terrorist organization, Ergenekon, were handed down in Silivri prison near Istanbul to dozens of media workers, in the frame of a larger trial. The sentences ranged from six years to solitary confinement for life.

Among those convicted, journalist Tuncay Özkan was sentenced to life in solitary confinement. Mustafa Balbay, Hikmet Çiçek, Mehmet Haberal, Yalçin Küçük, Turhan Özlu, Ergün Poyraz and Deniz Yildirim are also among the journalists who were convicted.

“The damage of verdicts on free expression and media freedom in Turkey is immeasurable,” she said. “I reiterate my call to the authorities for urgent and fundamental legislative reforms to improve media freedom, as well as the transparent and swift trial of all imprisoned journalists.”

Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe