TGC reacts to NATO accreditation: 'NATO must abandon the embargo it has imposed on independent media'

The Board of Directors of the Journalists Association of Turkey (TGC) announced that it is concerned about the unjustified rejection of accreditation requests from numerous independent media outlets that applied to cover the NATO summit to be held in Ankara. The statement included the following views:

“The rejection of accreditation requests from numerous media outlets, including Halk TV, Sözcü TV, Nefes, İlke TV, Cumhuriyet, ANKA News Agency, Medyascope, T24, and Yetkin Report, which wanted to follow the summit that NATO will hold in Ankara on July 7-8, 2026, is worrying in terms of press freedom. NATO's embargo on independent media is unacceptable. With this decision, NATO has also violated the principles of ‘democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law’ that it underscores in its own founding treaty.

NATO HAS ALSO BLOCKED THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION WITH THIS EMBARGO

Following national and international meetings that concern the public is not only a professional duty of journalists but also a requirement of the public's right to receive information. With this decision, NATO has also blocked the public's right to receive information. As emphasized in the Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities of Journalists in Turkey, the primary duty of a journalist is to investigate the facts and deliver complete and accurate information to the public.

WHY CAN THE REJECTION DECISION NOT BE QUESTIONED?

Even more worrying is that the reasons for the rejection decisions are not explained and that applicants are asked not to question this reasoning. In democratic societies and in the activities of international organizations, transparency, accountability, and equal treatment are among the fundamental principles.

NATO SHOULD NOT DISCRIMINATE AMONG JOURNALISTS

Discriminating among journalists and preventing certain media outlets from covering events of public importance undermines the freedom to receive and report news. International organizations are required to act in accordance with the democratic values they claim to defend and to apply clear, objective, and verifiable criteria in their decisions regarding media organizations. NATO officials must share the reasons for the rejection of accreditation applications with the public.

As the Journalists Association of Turkey, we call on NATO to abandon the embargo on independent media organizations. We will continue to stand against restrictions placed on the right of journalists to cover meetings of national and international importance.”

News Source: 12punto