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<\/p>\nThe representatives of a number of international press organizations have come together in a meeting in \u0130stanbul, and urged the Turkish government to release the jailed journalists.<\/p>\n
The Turkish Journalists\u2019 Association (TGC), the International Press Institute (IPI), Article 19, Swedish PEN, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), joined the meeting, as well as a number of journalists.<\/p>\n
The international press bodies have urged Turkish government to release the jailed journalists \u201cwithout condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
TGC head, Turgay Olcayto, stated that journalists have been struggling since the foundation of the Turkish Republic, but \u201cthere was not any distressful era like this one.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cAmong imprisoned journalists, there are those who have only engaged in journalistic activities. We want to visit them as an association. However we have been never allowed to visit any of our friends so far,\u201d Olcayto said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJournalists and media outlets are under massive pressure and the people do not have the right to access information. Despite this fact, the journalists continue to do their best even though they become unemployed. We are not losing our hope,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
IPI\u2019s coordinator for advocacy and communication activities, Steven Ellis, said in the meeting that they have participated in the meeting \u201cas the press organizations that are concerned about the future of freedom of expression in Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe journalists are kept in jail in a completely unlawful way. It\u2019s an unacceptable situation for a country that is expected to respect democratic processes. Bringing media freedom under pressure will not be limited to that profession only. Those who don\u2019t respect human rights and democratic values cannot be partners that you can jointly act,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sandy Bremmer from IPI also noted that \u201cit\u2019s unacceptable for Turkish government to bring the society and the journalists under pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bremmer stated that \u201cNo journalists can be subjected to illegitimate treatment because of the work they do. The duty that awaits the international society is to react.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s their duty to stand against unlawful treatment. We are here to bring light to the prices the journalists pay. Those in jail only ask for one thing; they want journalism to be carried out freely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Article 19\u2019s Georgia Nash, stated that \u201cThe charges which are far from solid evidence harm the trustworthiness of the judiciary.<\/p>\n
According to the government, the journalists are terrorists, but they only show their articles as evidence. We demand the release of journalists without any conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also speaking at the event, AEJ head, Otmar Lahodynsky, said that \u201cEurope has been silent on the events that are unfolding in Turkey,\u201d adding that the arrest of Germany\u2019s Die Welt\u2019s correspondent, Deniz Y\u00fccel, is a move to \u201ctease international journalists.\u201d<\/p>\n
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