Our newspaper Evrensel received a penalty from the Press Advertisement Institution for reporting that the Cumhuriyet newspaper’s journalists went in for a testimony. This resulted in a 3-day ban on advertisements given to our newspaper by the Press Advertisement Institution, which the press professional organisations reacted to. National and International Media Organizations emphasized that there is no reasonable explanation for the punishment, and drew attention to the fact that Evrensel is already facing the penalty of suspension. Professional organizations also said, "We stand by Evrensel".

"FORCED INTO A CONSCIOUS AND DELIBERATE ECONOMICAL COLLAPSE"

International Press Institute (IPI) Turkey Representative Renan Akyavas, says the Press Ad Agency (BIK) was originally established to support newspapers and media plurality and diversity. Pointing out that there is no reasonable explanation for the consecutive penalties given to Evrensel by the Press Ad Agency (BIK) she goes on to say, "Since September 2019, Evrensel has been subject to a suspension of advertising, the additional 68 days of cutting advertisements is now a clear indication of intentionally and deliberately forcing the newspaper into an economic collapse."

“BIK IS COMPLETELY POLITIZED”

Akyavaş reminded that IPI has drawn attention to this issue both in their meetings and statements with BIK and that they have requested BIK reports to be disclosed transparently, and reminded that BIK refused this request. She went on to say, “At this point, it should be noted with regret that BIK is a fully politicized institution and deliberately acts to force certain and critical newspapers to closure. However, as IPI, we stand by Evrensel, and we will continue to announce this major violation of press freedom to the international public.”

“INTOLERANCE TO CRITICISM”

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative and Bianet Media Freedom Reporter Erol Önderoğlu, noted that Fahrettin Altun, President of the Presidency of Communications, put Cumhuriyet journalists on trial for the allegation of "the illegal structure destroyed" with no statement, and imposed a three-day advertisement ban on Evrensel. Erol said, "Since September 2019 "Evrensel newspaper, which already had an advertisement suspension, was still punished by issuing a ban of advertisements, even though it brought up the statements of Cumhuriyet newspaper employees with caution."

Önderoğlu continued as follows: “The structures that are expected to organize the media independently and constructively, especially under the new government structure, are eliminating critical journalists and broadcasters. We can see that they are working in coordination and great harmony to deprive them of official advertisements, press cards and independent broadcasting opportunities. Trials of journalists for ‘targeting terrorist organizations’ over a single case, announcement of newspapers with the allegation of ‘violating personal rights’, introducing an 'access block' to website news also shows what kind of mobilization was developed in intolerance to criticism."

"PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE FREEDOM OF PRESS AND EXPRESSION"

Turkey Journalists' Union (TGS) Chair Gökhan Durmuş used the words "We are now living through days in Turkey where we are not sure what to be surprised about. The Press Advertisement Institution who had unlawfully deprived Evrensel of a single official advertisement for over a year and a half has now imposed a new fine of publishing advertisements. This is a punishment we just can’t believe, it must be a joke” he said.

Durmuş stated that the government has created untouchable people and punishes anyone and everyone opposing this, and Fahrettin Altun, who should have been disturbed by all of this as the Head of Communications, condoned and even encouraged these punishments. “Imagine a country, where the Head of Communications does not believe in freedom of press and expression. Now imagine a Head of Communications who calls on his lawyers, courts, RTÜK and Press Advertisement Institution against any negative news about him and rains punishments on journalists and media organizations. The cutting of advertisements for 3 days penalty was caused merely due to Fahrettin Altun's name being mentioned in an article, even though the subject of the news was the journalists on trial. There is no explanation for the penalty of cutting advertisements neither in the RCC regulations nor in the law. But of course they will not be able to silence Evrensel, the newspaper that reports on the side of the working class, with these penalties.”

“DIRECT INTERVENTION TO JOURNALISM”

The statement by the Journalists' Society of Turkey (TGC) Board of Directors emphasized that Evrensel has already had an advertisement suspension penalty. “The intervention of institutions such as RTÜK and BIK, which should approach every newspaper, every radio and television equally, is unfair, disproportionate and unlawful. The government's interventions that may lead to the closure of independent media organs because of their unpleasant news are excessive and illegal. Such sanctions are a direct interference with the journalism profession, and they are against the Constitution.”

Noting that the decisions made by TGC, BIK and RTÜK with the concern of benefiting the authority, they also harmed the ones in power with the injustice they created. "Freedom of the press includes the freedom to receive or give information or ideas without the intervention of official authorities in accordance with our Constitution. For this reason, we invite BIK and RTÜK to act impartially, to respect the Constitution in their decisions, and the freedom of expression of the press."

“WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT”

Faruk Eren, President of the DİSK Press Union, reminded that journalists are already living under great pressure and said, “Now these pressures have started to turn into arbitrariness.”

Eren says, “In the past, pressure was applied to the news that disturbed the government. Journalists, newspapers and news were pressured to prevent those news from reaching the public, but this is now a new level. With great whim, the press organs are being punished for mentioning the name of a Palace bureaucrat. We know this situation. Journalists have been living with these pressures for a long time, but we will never get used to it. We will continue to fight it.”

WHAT HAPPENED?

On 1st of May 2020, Evrensel received a penalty of a 3-day advertisement ban due to the complaint by the Communication Director Fahrettin Altun's Attorney Sezgin Tun, following the news they published titled "Cumhuriyet was summoned to testify because of the illegal villa news”. Our newspaper, which has already been banned from advertising  since September 2019, has had a total of 68 days of advertisement bans. In our news, we merely state that the Istanbul Büyükşehir Council’s Fahrettin Altun built and tore down a building on the land he rented and the journalists working in the Cumhuriyet newspaper who made the news were called in to testify because of this. (EVRENSEL DAILY)