Criminal prosecution of journalists in Turkey violates human right to free expression, says OSCE media freedom representative

VIENNA, 5 August 2013 – Today’s 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 today.

“I am deeply alarmed by today’s 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 today, 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 today’s 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.”

Previous statements by Mijatović on Turkey can be found on www.osce.org/fom.  The updated database of her Office on imprisoned journalists in Turkey will be published in the coming weeks.