Kılıçdaroğlu: We all have a responsibility for the direction our country is being dragged

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu spoke at a local media workshop in Marmaris.

Recalling that he met yesterday with 5 people imprisoned in the Gezi Park Case, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "As long as it stands by the truth and the righteous, the media will have largely fulfilled its duty."

Stating that Turkey also needs dissenting opinions, Kılıçdaroğlu reminded that journalists have been imprisoned for expressing their thoughts. Expressing that the media is one of the main actors of democracy, the CHP leader said, "You know the state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary better, but the situation the media is in is not very encouraging either."

"THE MEDIA'S RESPONSIBILITY IS PERHAPS EVEN GREATER THAN MINE"

Arguing that everyone should unite on the issues of justice and human rights, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We all need to think about the direction Turkey is being dragged. We all have a responsibility. The responsibility of the media, in particular, is perhaps even greater than mine. The media is an organ that voices injustices, which is why its importance in democracies is very great."

Touching upon TRT's broadcasts, Kılıçdaroğlu asked, "Is TRT really broadcasting impartially?" while also mentioning working conditions in the media sector and stating that he supports the unionization of journalists.

"NEWS VERIFICATION CENTER"

Stating that he wants media members to come together and form a 'News verification center', Kılıçdaroğlu said, "When a piece of news is taken down, this mechanism should convene and report that the news was accurate; I would like such a verification mechanism."

"I AM THE MOST HARSHLY CRITICIZED"

Speaking about the criticisms directed at him, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu assessed, "Among party leaders, I am the one who is criticized most harshly and ruthlessly. I have never shied away from this, and I have always respected criticism. But fake news and insults just for the sake of criticizing are not right."

News Source: 12punto