Journalism Organizations Comment on Erdoğan’s Threat to TV Anchor Fatih Portakal

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has targeted Fox TV anchorperson Fatih Portakal for the third time over the last week by saying, "If you do not know your place, this nation will hit you in the back of your head."

Turkey Representative to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Erol Önderoğlu, Secretary General of Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) Sibel Güneş, Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) Secretary General Mustafa Kuleli and Press Council of Turkey Secretary General Mustafa Eşmen have spoken to bianet about the targeting and threatening statements of Erdoğan about journalist Fatih Portakal since December 15.

RSF Turkey Representative: If any harm comes to Portakal, we will hold President accountable

Turkey Representative to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Erol Önderoğlu has stated that if any harm comes to Fatih Portakal, they will hold President Erdoğan accountable as the RSF:

"As we also experienced in the case of Hrant Dink in the past, if any attempt is made on the life of Fatih Portakal, what kind of discourse will Dear President, as the person who can be expected to stand independent in society and ease people's conscience, resort to?

"As the Reporters Without Borders, we expect that they will put an end to these irresponsible statements which dangerously provoke social polarization.

"In the event that anything happens to Fatih Portakal after this point, we declare as the RSF that we will hold Dear President accountable."

Kuleli: A message is given to media through Portakal

Mustafa Kuleli from Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) has also stated:

"In the person of Fatih Portakal, Erdoğan has been giving the following message to the media and society of Turkey: 'I will oppress you with violence. No one can say a word to me, you cannot take to the streets.' Above all things, some points need to be corrected... 

"First of all, taking to the streets, holding a demonstration, staging a protest is a right. We will continue to remind Erdoğan of these truths over and over again.

"Secondly, considering that Erdoğan said, 'Prosecutors will take action', he apparently thinks that he is above the judiciary. That being the case, he confesses that there does not exist an independent judiciary in Turkey and prosecutors take action upon his instruction."

Journalists' Association: It is anti-democratic

Secretary General of Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) Sibel Güneş has made a statement on behalf of the association and said, "If we consider freedom of the press based on universal criteria, it is a right of the people to learn and know the truths" and continued: 

"For that reason, we regard it as anti-democratic that the journalists, which fulfill their duties for that end, are targeted by politicians."

Eşmen from Press Council: They will perceive it as instruction

Making a statement on behalf of Press Council of Turkey, Secretary General of the council Mustafa Eşmen has said,

"Under no circumstances can it be accepted that President uses a depreciating language towards a member of the press and, to make matters worse, he uses the statements of 'putting him in his place' and 'hitting in the back of his head'. It is very unfortunate and inappropriate.

"Our concern is that the ones who are waiting for the day when they will 'put him in his place' will perceive those statements as an instruction.

"We are reminding once again that freedom of expression and press is an indispensable part of democracies."

(TP/SD)