OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media welcomes release of French journalist Loup Bureau

VIENNA, 15 September 2017 – “I welcome the decision of the court to release Loup Bureau from prison,” said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir, commenting the discharge of the French journalist from jail in Turkey today. “The next step is to drop all charges. Journalistic work should not be criminalized,” the Representative said.

On 26 July 2017, Bureau, a French freelancer who has covered various conflicts and crises including in Crimea, Egypt, Iraq and Syria, was arrested in south-eastern Turkey, near the Silopi district of Şırnak. He is facing severe terrorism charges. Désir has previously called on the Turkish authorities to release him.

The Representative recalled that Bureau is not the only foreign journalist in Turkey accused of serious charges. He previously also urged Turkey to release the German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel, who has been held for more than 200 days since February 2017, and the German journalist Meşale Tolu, who faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Désir also emphasized the alarming situation in Turkey with respect to media freedom and the urgent need to restore it. Earlier this week, together with UN media watchdog David Kaye, he called for the release of the journalists of the daily newspaper Cumhuriyet, whose trial resumed on Monday 11 September. If convicted, the journalists face up to 43 years in prison for their journalistic activities.

“Journalism is not a crime. I call for the release of all journalists in prison for their work,” Désir said.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He 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.