Journalists should not be detained for reporting on issues of public interest, says OSCE Representative Désir after arrest of 6 journalists in Turkey

VIENNA, 9 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his strong concern today over the detention of several journalists in Turkey.

On 4 March, journalist and Odatv news website Director Barış Terkoğlu and reporter Hülya Kılınç were detained over a news report in which they disclosed the identity of an intelligence officer who was killed in Libya. Editor-in-Chief of the Odatv news website, Barış Pehlivan, was arrested last Friday supposedly for the same reason. According to media reports, Yeniçağ journalist Murat Ağırel, as well as Yeni Yaşam Managing Editor Aydın Keser and Editor-in-Chief Ferhat Çelik, were re-arrested yesterday, after a prosecutor overturned their earlier release. They were also detained on the same charges.

“I am very concerned by the fact that journalists have been arrested for publishing on an issue of public interest. I urge the Turkish authorities to release them immediately,” Désir said. “Even in times of conflicts, and on issues related to a conflict situation, journalists must be able to report freely and to pursue their work of informing the public without censorship, pressure or intimidation.”

The Representative added that arresting journalists for their work seriously threatens media freedom and their ability to report on issues of public interest.

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.