OSCE Representative condemns severe prison sentences for Zaman journalists, calls for their release
VIENNA, 6 July 2018 - OSCE Representative on the Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir voiced strong disapproval of today’s court decision to imprison Zaman journalists.
“Today’s sentences confirm the critical state of press freedom in Turkey. Terrorism charges for articles and news are unacceptable. Today’s sentences against Şahin Alpay and his colleagues are unjustified and exceptionally severe. I recall that the European Court of Human Rights emphasized that freedom of expressionalso applies to views that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population”, said Désir.
On 6 July, Istanbul 13thHigh Criminal Court has sentenced former Zaman journalists Şahin Alpay, Mustafa Ünal, İbrahim Karayeğen, Ahmet Turan Alkan, Mümtazer Türköne, Ali Bulaç to prison sentences ranging from 8 years 9 months to 10 years 6 months for “membership of a terrorist organization”. İhsan Dağı, Orhan Kemal Cengiz, Nuriye Akman, Mehmet Özdemir and Lale Sarıibrahimoğlu were acquitted.
Following the coup attempt in July 2016, Zaman newspaper was closed by a statutory decree and many of its employees were taken into custody.
Désir emphasized the severe health condition of journalist Şahin Alpay who has received a prison sentence of 8 years and 9 months. The Representative recalled that both the Constitutional Court of Turkey and the European Court of Human Rights ruled that his pre-trial detention was a violation of his right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media.
“I call on Turkey to release the arrested journalists and hope that this decision will be reversed on appeal. I have been following the Zaman trial from the very beginning. It highlights once again the urgent need to reform Turkey’s criminal legislation which allows for numerous ways to silence critical journalists” said Désir.
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 atwww.osce.org/fom, Twitter:@OSCE_RFoMand onwww.facebook.com/osce.rfom