Cumhuriyet trial convictions a terrible setback for Turkey, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative, calls for end to criminalization of journalism

VIENNA, 19 February 2019 – Yesterday’s decision to uphold convictions and severe sentences handed down to dozens of Cumhuriyet journalists is a terrible setback and detrimental to Turkey’s commitments to free speech and independent media, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir said today.

“I am deeply alarmed by the decision of a Turkish court to uphold the convictions and harsh sentences against journalists and executives of the newspaper Cumhuriyet. Criminal prosecution of those with differing views violates the fundamental human right to free expression and the country’s OSCE commitments to advance and safeguard free media,” Désir said.

Representative Désir urged the immediate release and dismissal of all charges against these journalists. “Having dissident views or reporting on issues of public interest should not be criminalized. I call on the Turkish government to promptly review the legislative framework which enables such wrongful criminal convictions of journalists, for merely doing their work.”

On 18 February, an Istanbul court upheld a ruling to jail journalists and executives from the newspaper Cumhuriyet. According to the court ruling, many journalists will have to return to prison to serve the remainder of their sentences.

Journalists Kadri Gürsel and Hakan Karasınır were sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment. Cumhuriyet’s lawyer, Bülent Utku was sentenced to two years and four months in prison. The newspaper’s cartoonist Musa Kart was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. The newspaper’s accountant Emre İper was convicted to three years, one month and 15 days in prison. Güray Tekin Öz, Mustafa Kemal Güngör, and Önder Çelik were sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.

Most of these journalists and media workers have already served some of their sentences in pre-trial detention. However, all but Gürsel and Utku still have remaining time to serve and will have to return to prison.

Several other journalists and media workers, all of them convicted to more than five years in prison, will appeal against their sentences at a higher court.

Editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, prominent journalist Ahmet Şık, and Aydın Engin were sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Hikmet Çetinkaya and Orhan Erinç were sentenced to six years and three months in prison. Akın Atalay was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.  Ahmet Kemal Aydoğdu remains in prison, with a ten-year sentence.

“The accusations against the Cumhuriyet journalists of supporting terrorism are groundless as was demonstrated in previous hearings,” Désir said. “These journalists have been convicted for what is their fundamental human right: for reporting, expressing their view, investigating on issues of public interest, in a word for doing their work. I call on Turkey to reverse the sentences and to respect the freedom of the media.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media has followed the Cumhuriyet trials closely. See his previous statements here: www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/378883; www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/375619; www.osce.org/fom/219021.

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.