OSCE Representative calls on Turkey not to prosecute journalists for their reporting on issues of public interest

VIENNA, 31 March 2016 – On the eve of the trial in Turkey of journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called once again on the Turkish authorities not to prosecute them for their reporting on issues of public interest.

The daily Cumhuriyet’s editor-in-chief Dündar and the newspaper’s Ankara bureau chief Gül face aggravated life sentences, an additional life sentence and 30 years in prison for allegedly revealing state secrets in a May 2015 newspaper article. A closed-door trial is set to begin on 1 April.

“Imprisonment of journalists for reporting on issues of public interest is never acceptable,” Mijatović said. “In addition, the responsibility for protecting state secrets lies with officials and not with journalists.”

In February, the Constitutional Court ordered the release of the journalists pending trial, saying that their rights to freedom of press and expression and to personal security had been violated. But on 25 March, an Istanbul court ordered their trial to begin behind closed doors after a prosecutor said that the evidence to be presented included state secrets. The ruling drew widespread condemnation from international and national human rights groups and media NGOs.      

"I remain hopeful that the Turkish authorities will recognize the importance of this case and the impact that it might have on the media freedom situation in the country,” Mijatović said. “My Office stands ready to continue assisting the authorities in implementing their media freedom commitments.

“With full respect for the independence of the judiciary, cases involving journalists should not be held behind closed doors,” Mijatović said. “Transparency should be guaranteed by the authorities and the public’s right to information should prevail.”

Mijatović’s related statements can be accessed at //www.osce.org/fom/224456 (February 2016), //www.osce.org/fom/219021 (January 2016), and //www.osce.org/fom/204281 (November 2015).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.