TGC: 'Reporting the news is not a violation of the law on demonstrations'

Many people, including journalists, have been arrested during the protests that began following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his colleagues.

The Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) has reacted to the arrest of AFP reporter Yasin Akgül, NOW Haber reporter Ali Onur Tosun, photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, reporter Zeynep Kuray, İBB photojournalist Kurtuluş Arı, Bakırköy Municipality photojournalist Gökhan Kam, and reporter Hayri Tunç, who were arrested solely for following the news.

In the statement made by the TGC, it was stated: "It is unacceptable to fabricate crimes against journalists for doing their jobs, to try to intimidate them with prison sentences, and for them to be subjected to violence by security forces. Journalists cannot be punished while performing their duties, which they carry out based on rights granted by the Constitution and the Press Law."

The full text of the TGC's statement is as follows:

"Covering the Saraçhane protests is a journalistic activity. However, seven journalists who were detained while following the protests that began with the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu were first released on judicial control conditions on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, and were subsequently arrested. It is unacceptable to fabricate crimes against journalists for doing their jobs, to try to intimidate them with prison sentences, and for them to be subjected to violence by security forces.

AFP reporter Yasin Akgül, NOW Haber reporter Ali Onur Tosun, photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, reporter Zeynep Kuray, İBB photojournalist Kurtuluş Arı, Bakırköy Municipality photojournalist Gökhan Kam, and reporter Hayri Tunç were arrested due to their journalistic activities.

Detaining and arresting a journalist is putting society under surveillance. 'Freedom of the press is not a privilege granted to the individual journalist.' The guarantee granted to the journalist is the guarantee of the public's right to receive information. The journalist acts as a watchdog for the public. Whether you like it or not, they will observe events, conduct research, make evaluations, and, of course, share all of this with the public. This is also the responsibility of the journalist.

'IT IS A VIOLATION OF PRESS FREEDOM'

Our colleagues who are performing their journalistic duties are at the locations where the demonstrations are taking place in order to report on the events. There is no reasonable or justifiable reason to prevent our colleagues from doing their jobs.

The protection of human dignity is essential in our Constitution. Our colleagues faced unfair and ill-treatment by public officials while practicing journalism. With these actions, public officials have violated the provision of the Constitution that mandates that 'no one shall be subjected to torture or ill-treatment, and no one shall be subjected to penalties or treatment incompatible with human dignity.'

Let us remind you once again that all the treatment of journalists throughout this process is also a violation of the freedom of expression protected under Article 26 of the Constitution and the freedom of the press protected under Article 28.

If there is a public interest in reporting the news, if it is current, if it is in accordance with the visible truth, and if it has been written by taking professional principles into account, that news is considered lawful regardless of the consequences.

'A BLACK STAIN ON THE HISTORY OF THE PRESS'

Journalists cannot be punished while performing their duties, which they carry out based on rights granted by the Constitution and the Press Law.

Article 26 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 contains the provision that 'No penalty shall be imposed on a person who exercises their right.' According to the Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities of Journalists in Turkey, a journalist is primarily responsible to the public and to the truth.

The free circulation of news is essential for us to be a democratic country. The justification of 'violation of the law on meetings and demonstrations,' which is the reason for the arrest of our seven colleagues, has gone down in history as a black stain on the history of the press.

Attempting to suppress journalists through criminal complaints, lawsuits, and prison sentences is contrary to freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Our colleagues must be released. #JournalismIsNotACrime.”

News Source: 12punto