Abstract
Index on Censorship took part in a protest in London this May to speak out for a free Turkish media during Turkish President Erdogan’s visit to the UK capital
CREDIT: Danyaal Yasin/Index on Censorship
Sean Gallagher, Index’s head of content, said: “The unprecedented crackdown on freedom of expression and journalism in Turkey underlined how fragile democracy and the rule of law are. The fact that President Erdogan himself was arrested for reading a poem should mean that he is a defender of freedom of expression, not one who attacks it.” When he was mayor of Istanbul in 1997, Recep Tayyip Erdogan read out a poem that upset the then government and he was imprisoned on a charge of inciting religious hatred.
Twenty-nine Turkish journalists were jailed on terrorism charges in the last week of April alone, according to a United Nations statement. In May Erdogan visited the UK as part of a three-day trip to demonstrate the UK’s “strong relationship” with Turkey, during which he met both Prime Minister Theresa May and the Queen.
On the day of his arrival, Index joined IFEX, English PEN and Reporters Without Borders outside Downing Street to call for the release of imprisoned journalists and an end to Erdogan’s crackdown on free speech. Hundreds of demonstrators spoke out for a free Turkish media, which has seen unprecedented attacks since the failed coup.
Speaking at the protest, Index on Censorship magazine editor Rachael Jolley said: “If Theresa May cares about free speech, if this government cares about free speech and free expression, this should be on the table for this meeting with President Erdogan.
“This [British] government often talks about its commitment to free speech, so let’s see a sign of this in its international politics. How can we believe in a government’s commitment to free expression if it is willing to meet international leaders where free expression is massively threatened and they do not talk about that?”
Protesters chanted “free Turkey media”, voicing their disapproval of the current government. One Turkish demonstrator, who wished to remain anonymous, told Index: “It is so sad to see that my country is such a corrupt place that I can’t even protest in a normal manner. I have to cover my face, because there are no rights in Turkey, there’s no freedom.
Index on Censorship magazine editor Rachael Jolley delivers a speech at the protest against Erdogan’s crackdown on free expression, May 2018
CREDIT: Danyaal Yasin/Index on Censorship
“It’s time to say stop, it’s time to take action. There has to be something done about Erdogan imprisoning people for no reason – it’s just not right.”
The president’s visit came during the campaign for the snap presidential and parliamentary election due to take place in Turkey on 24 June, nearly 18 months earlier than expected.
In a statement, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: “It is difficult to imagine how credible elections can be held in an environment where dissenting views and challenges to the ruling party are penalised so severely.
“The heavy police presence and arrests during the May Day protests also demonstrated yet again the severely limited space for freedom of peaceful assembly in the country.”
May Day, also known as International Workers Day, saw tensions rise in Turkey, with more than 80 demonstrators arrested for marching on Taksim Square in Istanbul. Police declared the city’s historic square off-limits because of security concerns, but small groups managed to break through. The square is symbolic for the workers’ movement after 34 people were killed in 1977 during a May Day demonstration.
Protests erupted across the globe on 1 May this year, with workers and activists rallying against labour issues in their countries. Protesters in the Philippines expressed their frustrations with President Rodrigo Duterte, calling on him to end short-term employment in the country, something he promised to do on his campaign trail in 2016.
In France, hundreds marched across the capital against President Emmanuel Macron, who plans to end some worker protections as part of his pro-business reforms.
The day also saw thousands march in Spain, Greece, Germany and Cuba, against various inequalities.
May also saw journalists around the world continue to face attacks for their work, with World Press Freedom Day (on 3 May) highlighting the need to support those under fire.
Ten media workers were killed in two separate incidents in Afghanistan, with journalists among those who lost their lives in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, which claimed 26 lives. Later the same day, BBC reporter Ahmad Shah was murdered in the Khost region.
The White House called the attacks “a senseless and heinous act”, and many will welcome this condemnation, but this should not divert attention from media freedom violations in the USA. A report based on the findings of a mission to the country in January, which included Index on Censorship, found that press freedom continued to decline there.
Arrests, border stops, searches of devices, prosecution of whistleblowers and restrictions on the release of public information have all affected the ability of journalists to do their jobs. Co-authored by organisations including Article 19, CPJ and IFEX, the report showed that while current President Donald Trump’s attacks on “fake news” outlets has led to a hostile climate for the press, press freedom violations also “rocketed under the Obama administration”.
Index CEO Jodie Ginsberg said: “Animosity toward the press is undermining the public’s right to information,” adding that “the pressures that journalists are facing in the US are reflective of the toxic atmosphere towards journalism being stoked by global leaders”.
In April, Index celebrated the 2018 Freedom of Expression Awards at a ceremony held at the Mayfair Hotel, in London. Wendy Funes, Habari RDC, the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms and The Museum of Dissidence won the awards for their work in journalism, digital activism, campaigning and arts, respectively. Recognised for their impact in their fields, the 2018 fellows visited the Index offices in London for a week of dedicated training and support. Recently appointed Index advocacy and fellowships officer Perla Hinojosa said: “It was a humbling experience working with the fellows. Knowing what they go through on a day-to-day basis to defend the freedom of expression and seeing them get the recognition they deserve was the epitome of why the fellowship awards exist. It helps them in their work because they get exposure and international recognition for important work that sometimes goes unseen.”
The awards are aimed at helping free expression across the globe and promoting those in need of support. One of this year’s campaigning nominees, Open Stadiums, a group of Iranian women fighting against the restrictions on their use of public spaces, said just to be nominated “gave them strength”, adding: “If we get arrested, we know at least some people will know about our passion and the work we’ve done [over] the last 12 years. This campaign is our life’s passion and now it’s being recognised.”
Wendy Funes, winner of the journalism award, also spoke of seeing the other people and groups nominated, telling Index: “Coming for the fellowship week was so enriching because it let us know, as fellows and nominees, that we’re not the only ones going through the same types of issues.
“Seeing all the amazing people and groups let me know that we can come together and collaborate. We can help each other’s stories be heard – not just in our own countries, but around the world.”