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Home Newsroom News and press releases OSCE representative Désir welcomes milestone ruling of Constitutional Court releasing Alpay and Altan, urges Turkey to release all journalists
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OSCE representative Désir welcomes milestone ruling of Constitutional Court releasing Alpay and Altan, urges Turkey to release all journalists

VIENNA 11 January 2018
Members of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) hold stencils made by French street artist C215 representing portraits of emprisonned Turkish journalists, as they take part in a demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Paris, France, January 5, 2018. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

VIENNA, 11 January 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir welcomed today’s ruling by Turkey’s Constitutional Court to release two journalists, calling it a step of vital importance in improving media freedom and freedom of expression in the country.

“Today’s decision by the Constitutional Court states that the detention of journalists violates the Constitution of Turkey,” Désir said. “I trust that besides giving back freedom to journalists Şahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan, whose release I called for earlier, this landmark decision also paves the way for the judiciary to urgently release all imprisoned journalists in the country.”

On 11 January, the Constitutional Court decided that the rights of imprisoned journalists Alpay and Altan have been violated, and that their detention was unjust. Writer and journalist Alpay, detained since 27 July 2016 and suffering from multiple health problems, as well as author and journalist Altan, in detention since 22 September 2016, are expected to be released later tonight.

“I trust that the decision, the full text of which is expected to be published soon, will emphasize the importance of protecting freedom of expression and will thus pave the way for the release of all journalists in Turkey,” Désir said.  “It is of utmost importance that Turkey changes course and starts protecting the work of journalists, and through it the right of the public to access pluralistic information on issues affecting their lives.”

Earlier statements by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media regarding Turkey can be found at www.osce.org/fom.

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.