Presidency: Press Card Not a Must for Journalistic Activities

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The Presidency has submitted a petition to the Council of State as part of the lawsuit filed for the annulment of the new Press Card Regulation, which has made it more difficult to get press cards and easier to cancel them.

As reported by Alican Uludağ from daily Cumhuriyet, the Presidency has argued in the petition that "a person is not obligated to have a press card to engage in journalistic activities".

"People also do journalism and express their opinions without a press card. As a matter of fact, there are several members of press who do not possess a press card", the Presidency has reiterated.

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After the new Press Card Regulation entered into force on December 14, 2018, lawyer Onur Can Keskin appealed to the Council of State on behalf of the Contemporary Journalists' Association (ÇGD), requesting that some articles of the regulation be annulled and their execution be suspended on the ground that they conflict with the Constitution and related laws.

Presidency Director for Laws and Regulations Hakkı Susmaz has sent a nine-page written defense to the 10th Chamber of the Council of State and argued that "the lawsuit is unjust and deprived of any legal foundation."

'Card is not obligatory'

In the petition of the Presidency, it has been indicated that "press card offers certain opportunities that facilitate journalistic activities when performing their profession" and listed some of these opportunities in obtaining service-stamped passports, gun licences and attending public events.

Within this context, the petition has underlined, "Seen in this light, the allegations that the articles of the regulation restrict freedom of press or freedom of expression do dot reflect the reality and the regulation essentially governs the conditions for having a press card."

'Regulation is necessary and appropriate'

The petition has also defended the article of the regulation which foresees that "if a person acts against national security or public order or makes a habit out of it, his or her press card is cancelled."

Considering that "press cards can be used in gun license procedures and provide the opportunity to join activities also attended by senior state officials, it is apparent that the regulation in question is necessary and appropriate", the petition has argued.

Concluding the petition, the Presidency has indicated that "the regulation does not have an aspect that is against the law or requires its annulment."

Güleryüzlü: Articles restricting freedom of press

Speaking about the defense of the Presidency, ÇGD Chair Can Güleryüzlü has stated that "the mentality that prepared the defense counts journalism as an offense, in a sense" and emphasized,

"Contrary to what the Presidency alleged, the new Press Card Regulation is full of articles that make it more difficult to give press card in an anti-constitutional manner and, therefore, restrict the freedom of press." (TP/SD)