Statement from Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş on 'green passports for journalists'

A cycling event was held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) for the January 10 Working Journalists Day.

The event, organized in cooperation with the TBMM, the Turkish Cycling Federation, and the Turkish News Cameramen Association, was attended by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, MHP Group Deputy Chairman Muhammed Levent Bülbül, members of parliament, Turkish Cycling Federation President Emin Müftüoğlu, and numerous journalists and bureaucrats.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş expressed his pleasure in participating in the event held within the scope of the January 10 Working Journalists Day at the TBMM, the center of national will. Kurtulmuş also congratulated press members on the January 10 Working Journalists Day.

Stating that journalists perform a major public duty both in Turkey and around the world, Kurtulmuş said, "Our journalist friends perform a great service, often putting their lives on the line, to fulfill the requirements of their profession under the most difficult and worst conditions, to bring the truths behind events to the surface, and to selflessly fulfill our nation's right to receive news and be informed. I would like to express that we bow with respect before the cherished memories of those who truly carry out the journalism profession with great honor, especially under difficult conditions, including war, and especially our journalist brothers and sisters who were taken from life during this great massacre and genocide in Gaza."

Kurtulmuş continued his speech as follows:

"The profession of journalism requires constant movement under the most difficult conditions and an unceasing struggle and effort to uncover the news or truth you are chasing. Just like a cyclist who must constantly pedal to avoid falling. In fact, both the journalist and the person riding the bicycle, from the moment they start pedaling, strive to perform their work freely, not just by letting themselves go with the flow of events, but with discipline, balance, and freedom. I would like to remind you of this similarity once again."

Kurtulmuş congratulated the administrators of the Turkish Cycling Federation who contributed to the event and expressed his wish for the cycling race at the Parliament to become a tradition.

Numan Kurtulmuş wished success to the journalists participating in the cycling race.

"I HOPE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR OUR JOURNALIST FRIENDS TO OBTAIN GREEN PASSPORTS"

Chatting with journalists after the cycling race, Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş said the following upon being reminded of the demand for granting green passports to journalists:

"Journalist friends had presented their requests for green passports to me months ago. They even visited the groups in the TBMM after we spoke. I expressed my opinion on this matter very clearly that day as well. Granting green passports to our esteemed press members who have dedicated a certain amount of time to this profession would be a very elegant and natural gesture. We should pave the way for our friends who have dedicated 15 or 10 years to this profession to obtain green passports. Of course, the decision-maker here is the TBMM. Proposals on this matter will be evaluated in the TBMM as well. Let us express this approach once again here on the occasion of the January 10 Working Journalists Day. I hope that it will be possible for our journalist friends to obtain green passports as soon as possible."