DİYARBAKIR - Stating that the pressure on the press will increase with the "Censorship Law", Deputy Director of IPI Scott Griffen said:"There is a press freedom crisis in Turkey and that a climate of fear is wanted to be created with this."

 

Kurdish journalists came together in Diyarbakir, hosted by the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), as part of the annual press freedom meetings in Turkey under the leadership of the International Press Institute (IPI). In Turkey, where 79 journalists are detained in prisons, in an environment where the pressure against journalists is increasing day by day, this time the law, which envisages new sanctions regarding internet media and social media, known as the "Censorship Law", was approved by AKP-MHP votes in the General Assembly of the Parliament.

 

IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen, who came to Diyarbakir within the scope of press freedom meetings, made evaluations about the pressure on journalists and the government's censorship of the press.

 

THE REASONS BRING IPI TO DIYARBAKIR

 

Stating that the main reason that brought IPI to Diyarbakır was the arbitrary arrests of journalists, Griffen said: “The arbitrary arrests, arbitrary trials, the collection of newspapers, the collection of all equipment and cameras used in journalism, have greatly affected us. It was very impressive that you were doing your job under years of pressure. With the "Censorship Law" adopted in the General Assembly of the Parliament, the pressure on journalists will increase. There is a press freedom crisis in Turkey and a climate of fear is wanted to be created with this. The necessity for the judiciary to be independent and impartial is important so that this law does not lead to further violations. The press freedom crisis in Turkey can be seen from Europe. With this disinformation law, not only is it necessary to arrest journalists to silence journalists, but laws such as the disinformation law are instrumentalized and used as a means of pressure. It is a completely wrong approach as it completely removes the public's right to access information."