Turkey’s Erdogan says ‘journalists commit crimes, too’ – Christian Science Monitor
July 12, 2017 Athens, GreeceA satirical cover for a political news magazine was all it took to see its editor eventually sentenced to more than two decades in prison.
Cevheri Guven, editor in chief of Turkey's Nokta magazine, fled while out on bail late last year, smuggling his family out of a country he says is rapidly descending toward all-out dictatorship. He took refuge in Greece, where he applied for political asylum.
Mr. Guven is far from alone in feeling the full force of the Turkish government's wrath against press critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, particularly after last year's failed coup attempt. About 160 journalists are currently in jail, mostly on terrorism-related charges, while more than 150 media outlets, from broadcasters to newspapers and magazines, have been shut down, leaving thousands unemployed.
Mr. Erdogan bristles at accusations he is muzzling the press, saying authorities are simply rooting out criminals. He disputes figures from rights groups about the number of imprisoned journalists.
"There can be no question of limitless freedoms in the press. If the media abuses all kinds of freedoms to cause turmoil in the country or to cause provocations, then there is the judiciary for them, too," he said Wednesday, addressing foreign investor representatives in Istanbul. "The judiciary will work for them, too. Nowhere in the world can there be limitless freedoms. The West does the same to freedoms and its media members."
Asked at the end of last week's G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany, about the media situation, Erdogan again insisted that those arrested had been detained for criminal activity.
"Journalists commit crimes, too, and when they do the judiciary makes the necessary assessment," he said. "I want you to know that those you know as being members of the press are mostly people who aided and abetted terror."
Pressure on Turkey's media is nothing new. Ranked 155th out of 180 countries in the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, Turkey fared only marginally worse than it had the previous year, when it was ranked at 151. Some journalists in prison today have been there for years.
"Turkey is the world leader in jailing journalists and has decimated the independent print media and cracked down heavily on news websites and social media," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, Turkey director for Human Rights Watch. Most of the journalists now imprisoned "have not yet been convicted of any crime but face trumped-up terrorism charges," she said.
Rights groups have criticized Turkey for decades for imprisoning journalists. The country has seen at least three coups, in 1960, 1971, and 1980, each leading to regimes that restricted the media in various ways. Guven's own troubles started with a September 2015 magazine cover, long before last year's July 15 coup attempt.
But, he says, the coup aftermath, with its state of emergency granting authorities sweeping powers, has plunged the country to new lows.
"There have been [bad times] in Turkey, in the junta years," Guven said, speaking through a translator from his temporary home in Greece. "But now is the worst time for journalists."
He says some of his colleagues have been released from detention by court order, only to be re-arrested outside the prison gates. Others are held in isolation, and are threatened with life sentences.
"This shows that there is no chance for journalists to be free in Turkey," he said. Guven himself has been sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for a variety of terrorist-related crimes, including making propaganda for both the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, two groups that are hostile to each other. Erdogan blames Mr. Gulen, a former ally living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, for the coup.
The situation in Turkey, Guven said, "is obviously" going toward a dictatorship.
Rights groups say critical reporting has been all but silenced by the detentions and sackings, which have included the editor and top staff at Turkey's most respected opposition newspaper, Cumhuriyet.
"The crackdown on the media is not only about censoring critical reporting," said HRW's Sinclair-Webb, "but about preventing scrutiny of government policies and of the deeply repressive measures taken under the ongoing state of emergency."
For Guven, serious problems began with Nokta's satirical cover in September 2015 depicting a smiling Erdogan taking a selfie in front of a Turkish soldier's flag-draped coffin. It was strong criticism of the president's reported comments that soldiers killed fighting Kurdish militants would be happy for their martyrdom.
The result: Distribution of the magazine was banned and police raided its offices, accusing its leadership of insulting the president. In May, Guven's colleague Murat Capan was caught trying to flee to Greece and has been imprisoned in Turkey, also on a 22.5-year sentence. Greek media said Mr. Capan had made it across the Greek border but was pushed back into Turkey, where authorities detained him. The Greek government denies pushing back asylum seekers.
Activists say the media crackdown has fostered a climate of fear which has led to self-censorship.
"The fact that there are journalists in jail is not the only proof of the lack of press freedoms in Turkey. The censorship and self-censorship imposed on media organs also remove press freedoms," Gokhan Durmus, head of the Turkish Journalists' Syndicate, said in a speech on May 3, World Press Freedom Day. "In our country, which is governed under a state of emergency, journalism is being destroyed. They are trying to create a media with one voice, a Turkey with one voice."
The purge has affected almost every sector of Turkey's professional classes, from the judiciary and military to academia, hospitals, kindergartens, businesses, and diplomats. Human rights activists, including members of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have been among the latest wave of detentions.
Anyone deemed to be linked to Gulen's network of schools, charities, and businesses has fallen under suspicion. About 150,000 people have been detained, one-third of them formally arrested; more than 100,000 have been fired, sometimes for links as tenuous as using a particular bank.
Read more from the original source:
Turkey's Erdogan says 'journalists commit crimes, too' - Christian Science Monitor
- Ukraine Proposes Leaders' Meeting With Erdogan and Trump, Agrees on Prisoner Exchange With Russia - UNITED24 Media - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ukraine proposes meeting of leaders with participation of Erdogan and Trump and declares readiness for - ukranews.com - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Erdogan says Germany, Britain positive on Eurofighter jets sale to Turkey - Reuters - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- We will not leave Sharaa alone: Erdogan vows to stand by Damascus, rejects 'fragmentation of Syria - thecradle.co - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Spotify threatens to pull out of Turkey over rows on playlists targeting Erdogan's spending - The Jerusalem Post - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Erdogan, Starmer discuss progress on Eurofighter jets sale to Turkey - MarketScreener - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Erdogan says Germany, Britain positive on Eurofighter jets sale to Turkey - AL-Monitor - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Erdogan says Germany, Britain positive on Eurofighter jets sale to Turkey - MSN - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Erdogan Family Shipping Scandal: Behind the Curtain of Turkeys Trade With Israel - Greatreporter - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Erdogan says Germany, Britain positive on Eurofighter jets sale to Turkey - Yahoo Home - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Erdogan: world must accept reality of two states on Cyprus - eKathimerini.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Erdogan visits Turkish-occupied north Cyprus on 51st anniversary of 1974 invasion - eKathimerini.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Erdogan honours martyrs on 51st anniversary of Cyprus Peace Operation - TRT Global - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Turkey's Erdogan condemns 'pampered and desparate' Israel after its military actions in Syria - Yahoo Home - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Erdogan: Terror state Israel using Druze as pretext to expand into Syria - The Times of Israel - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Erdogan claims Israels Syria strikes unacceptable and a threat to the entire region - The Times of Israel - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Turkey Opposition Accuses Erdogan of Political Witch-Hunt - Bloomberg - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Erdogan: Israels aggression against Syria poses the biggest problem in the region Syrian Arab News Agency - - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Israeli strikes threat to entire region: Erdogan tells al-Sharaa - Al Arabiya English - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Erdogan calls for unity against terrorism on anniversary of failed coup - Trkiye Today - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'Century of Trkiye' vision turning into reality: President Erdogan - Trkiye Today - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Outdated Video of Erdogan in Traditional Clothing Resurfaces After PKK Disarmament - - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- President Erdogan frames emerging 'Jerusalem Alliance' of Turks, Kurds, and Arabs - Trkiye Today - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Erdogan to Iraqi PM: We aim to uproot terrorism for good - Shafaq News - - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Trkiye committed to wiping out terrorism across region: Erdogan - Trkiye Today - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Erdogan, Aliyev discuss ties and security across South Caucasus - AnewZ - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Erdogan blocks Musks AI bot after it insults his mother - telegraph.co.uk - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Turkish Police Detain Three More Mayors From Party Opposed to Erdogan - The Wall Street Journal - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Erdogan: Terrorism-free Trkiye will bring about positive results - Latest news from Azerbaijan - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Terrorism-free Trkiye 'will bring about positive results': Erdogan - TRT Global - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Erdogan draws parallels between Srebrenica Genocide and Gaza in 30th anniversary message - Trkiye Today - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Erdogan's top economy advisor Yigit Bulut dies after prolonged illness - Trkiye Today - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Turkey detains hundreds of Erdogan opponents in pursuit of 'octopus' of corruption - Reuters - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- President Erdogan will 'deliver a historic speech' on July 12: Spokesperson - Trkiye Today - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Turkish President Erdogan Cracks Down on the Opposition Party - The National Interest - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Turkey Blocks Grok AI on X for Alleged Insults to Erdogan, Atatrk, and Religious Values - Greek City Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Turkey Blocks Grok Content For Alleged Humiliation Of Erdogan And Religious Values - VOI.ID - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trkiye bans Elon Musks AI chatbot Grok over insults to Erdogan, Ataturk - Trkiye Today - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- As Erdogan cracks down on opposition, is Turkey headed to early election? - Firstpost - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Erdogan Says Yerevan is More Flexible on So-Called Zangezur Corridor - Asbarez - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- 3 mayors arrested in southern Turkey as part of crackdown on opposition to Erdogan - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Erdogan expects F-35 deliveries during Trump presidency, rejects Greek concerns - Defence Industry Europe - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Erdogan meets with pro-Kurdish party delegation in 'historic' peace talks - Trkiye Today - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Turkeys pro-Kurdish party will meet with President Erdogan By Reuters - Investing.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Erdogan says asked Trump to intervene over shootings at Gaza aid centers - The Times of Israel - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Erdogan confident Turkey to be readmitted to F-35 programme - The New Arab - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Turkish Police Detain Three More Mayors From Party Opposed to Erdogan - WSJ - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Erdogan confident Turkey will receive F-35 jets under deal with Trump - eKathimerini.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Erdogan: Peace with Kurds to gain momentum as PKK starts laying down arms - kurdistan24.net - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Erdogan says PKK arms decision will accelerate peace process - Trkiye Today - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- PKK disarmament to boost peace with Kurds: Erdogan - New Age BD - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Erdogan and Sharif discuss trade expansion and Gaza crisis at Azerbaijan summit - Trkiye Today - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Armenias vision of unblocking anchored on sovereignty and national jurisdiction: Foreign Ministry responds to Erdogan - Armenpress - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Erdogan: I truly believe Khankendi will become a center of peace - Latest news from Azerbaijan - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- As Trump Pushes Syria Toward Israel, Erdogan Asks What's in It for Him - Haaretz - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Erdogan vows action against magazine over alleged religious insult - rudaw.net - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Erdogan pushes for F-35 deal with US in bid to strengthen Turkey's Air Force, expert says - The Jerusalem Post - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Turkey agrees to increase water flow to Iraq after meeting between Al-Mashhadani and Erdogan - Iraqi News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- President Erdogan to visit Azerbaijan for Economic Cooperation Organization Summit - Trkiye Today - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- U.S. envoy expects Trump, Erdogan to resolve arms sanctions on Turkey this year -Anadolu - Reuters - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Erdogan reiterates gratitude to Azerbaijan for earthquake relief support - Latest news from Azerbaijan - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Erdogan hails 2024 as record year for exports, pledges continued growth in 2025 - TRT Global - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- US envoy expects Trump, Erdogan to resolve arms sanctions on Turkiye this year - Arab News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- EUs aid to Turkey diverted to spying operations in Europe by Erdogan govt - Nordic Monitor - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Trump, Erdogan hold first meeting at NATO as ties warm: What to know - AL-Monitor - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- President Erdogan condemns terrorist attack in Pakistan near Afghan border - Trkiye Today - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Erdogan Claims Progress in Bid to Secure F-35 Fighter Jet From United States - Foundation for Defense of Democracies - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Turkey hopes for progress on F-35 jets after Trump meeting, Erdogan says - The Times of Israel - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Erdogan says Trump would join Ukraine peace talks in Turkey if Putin attends - Reuters - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- World Juniors Qualifier Talya Erdogan is Headed to George Washington University for 2025 - SwimSwam - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Turkeys Erdogan says positive developments on Eurofighter jets - eKathimerini.com - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Erdogan with Trump after five years: why can they get along better now? - Yetkin Report - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Trkiye in talks with the US to rejoin F-35 programme, says Erdogan - TRT Global - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Erdogan says Turkey hopes for progress on F-35s after Trump meeting - Investing.com - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Erdogan said that the Russian S-400 air defense systems are not enough to protect Turkey - EADaily - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Erdogan says wont let terror drag Syria back to instability - arabnews.jp - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Erdogan to attend June 2425 NATO summit in The Hague as allies mull defense spending hike - Trkiye Today - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Erdogan says Israel-Iran war near point of no return, vows to boost missile production - The Times of Israel - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Armenian prime minister discusses reconciliation with Erdogan in landmark Turkey visit - AP News - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Armenian prime minister to meet Erdogan in rare visit to Turkey aimed at mending ties - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]