Press Council statement following the detention of journalists: 'Let us repeat it again'

Journalist Barış Pehlivan and Halk TV Managing Editor Serhan Asker were detained due to a phone call in which they granted a right of reply to an expert witness named by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. One hour after these detentions, Seda Selek was also taken into custody. Following these developments, a statement was issued by the Press Council.

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Press Council statement following the detention of journalists: 'Let us repeat it again'

Reminding that journalism is a constitutional profession and that its duty is to inform the public, the Press Council issued the following statement:

Statement by the PRESS COUNCIL Regarding Recent Developments:

“Just as it is not a crime to criticize members of the judiciary by holding a press conference, it is not a crime to report on what is said at a press conference. No public official, including the President, is exempt from criticism.

Journalism in Turkey is a legal profession that derives its legitimacy from the constitution and its power from the public. However, those who hold power do their utmost at every opportunity to view and portray journalists as criminals.

Not a day goes by without a journalist being detained or having an investigation launched against them. We have lost count of how many times we have said this, but let us repeat it again:

Journalism is a constitutional profession. Its duty is to inform the public. The desire to create a dark country by imposing publication bans and imprisoning reporters will eventually be in vain.”

News Source: 12punto