Auto-Censorship More Pressing

On Friday, 24 July, the Turkey Journalists' Society (TGC) held its 2009 Press Freedom Award's night at Dolmabahçe Palace.

Two awards

On the 101st anniversary of the official lifting of censorship, awards were handed to Milliyet newspaper's Nedim Şener, who has written a book entitled "The Dink murder and intelligence lies" and to former European Court of Human Rights judge Rıza Türmen, who writes on legal issues for the same newspaper.

Şener is currently on trial for the book, as police officers mentioned in the book have filed criminal complaints against him.

Later during the ceremony, 99 members of the TGC who have gained the right to carry press cards continuously since last year were handed plaques.

Censorship well and alive in Turkey

Orhan Erinç, president of the TGC, said that censorship has continued for years in Turkey: "Censorship is still on the agenda as a problem of our profession, both in terms of limitations to the freedom of expression, and the implementation of auto-censorship for political, economic and ideological reasons."

He said that bans on Internet websites in Turkey had turned into real censorship and said that the TGC was struggling against laws that obstructed the people's right to be informed.

The TGC, so Erdinç, was also carrying out professional training seminars to sperad the application of professional principles.

"A society of fear"

Journalist Şener received the award from Erinç, saying that Turkey was turning into a society of fear, and that writing about ordinary issues such as a price increase or the competition of two candidates at a party congress could lead to the journalist being berated.

He said, "The Press Law, which is severe anyway, is in force, and those in power, who are not preventing journalists from being tried under the Anti-Terrorism Law or the Turkish Penal Code,  are using their legislative and executive power to create a society of fear. Most support is received by those newspapers and TV channels close to them."

Türmen said in his acceptance speech, "This award shows that I do my job well. As a young journalist new to the profession, this award supports me. For many years, I only wrangled with theory, but now I am focusing on practice. I now understand that press freedom is actually the journalists' life, an indispensable domain."

Turkey ranks low in press freedom

Türmen said that he had noticed developments in press freedom in recent years, but that there was more sophisticated oppression of this right in terms of politics, administration and finance: "If there was respect for press freedom in Turkey, then Turkey would not be listed on place 122 out of 221 countries in the relevant list published by the World Bank."

Around 400 people attended the ceremony. Among them were DISK trade union confederation president Süleyman Çelebi, caricaturist Musa Kart, media lawyer Fikret İlkiz, Press Advertisement Institute director Ertan Cillov, journalists Hıfzı Topuz, Sedat Ergin, Şükran Soner, Doğan Hızlan, Füsun Özbilgen, Celal Başlangıç, TGC' previous president Nail Güreli, publisher Ragıp Zarakolu, Osman Köse from the Haber-Sen trade union and Ümit Kanoğlu, Istanbul region director of the Andolu Ajansı news agency. (EÖ/AG)