Deniz Kılınç / Istanbul, October 4 (HNA) – Professional media associations revealed strong opinions on the new law proposal on “journalism” instated by the ruling AKP and MHP parties, which includes penal sanctions and restrictions.
The new proposal by the ruling government coalition of AKP and MHP, dubbed “Amendment of the Press Law and Other Laws” will be the first legislative regulation to be discussed in the new term of the General Assembly.
Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), Turkish Press Council (TGS), Turkish Writers’ Union (TYS), DİSK Basın İş, PEM Turkish Writers Associations, and Turkish Publishers Association got together in a meeting in Istanbul and called the parliament to withdraw the new Social Media Law Proposal.
“This censor law particularly interests journalists,” said Sibel Güneş, TGS Secretary General. “But it is vitally important for the democracy to reign again before the elections for the citizens and the future of this country. If the new law, which aims to control social media, passes then journalism will be banned for good. It will force journalists to reveal their sources.”
Faruk Eren, DİSK Press Union Chairman emphasized how this law is a democracy issue: “I invite all the citizens, democracy organizations and democratic political parties to fight against this censor law.”
Meanwhile, in İzmir, TGS members sent their petitions to the TBMM group deputy chairmen. TGS İzmir Branch President Halil İbrahim Hüner said in a statement that nearly three-quarters of the 52-article bill was aimed at shutting down newspapers and shutting people’s voices and added:
“They will not only silence journalists but also crush down all the social media users. With this law, journalists and social media users alike will be punished for what they write and publish.”
Other media professional organizations under the Media Solidarity Group are expected to make a joint statement on Tuesday.
“The bill, which seems to be prepared to increase censorship, not the fight against disinformation, yet again enters the agenda of the parliament at the beginning of the new legislative year, despite our objections throughout 2022,” the TGS statement said and added:
“As Turkey prepares for the elections, we want this proposal, which has been insistently brought to the agenda under the name of ‘fighting disinformation’, but which has no other purpose than to pressure journalism and punish the media, to be withdrawn.
“If this law proposal, prepared unilaterally by the government without consulting professional media organizations, passes, journalists may be sentenced up to three years in prison for an allegedly false report, and citizens who post criticisms on social media may be accused of disinformation. The government will decide whether the shared content is correct or not.
“Let’s summarize what will change in our lives if the law passes as it is:
“– Social media will be under pressure, and instant messaging apps will provide information to the BTK.
“– Press cards owned by journalists will have no meaning as it will be enough association and foundation managers to be active in the media field to get press cards. The Press Advertisement Institution will be equipped with broad powers as an institution that gives both fines and penalties to newspapers and media websites. Just like RTÜK, which pressures television and radio, it will become a print and digital media police.
“– BTK and BİK will threaten print and digital media, as well as communication applications such as social media and Whatsapp, under strict control and punishment. The bandwidth of social media companies that do not accept heavy obligations such as giving user information or taking action on accounts alleged to have committed crimes will be narrowed by 95 percent, so these applications that we all use every day will not work.
“– 75 percent of the official advertisement income, which is the main source of income for local newspapers, will evaporate, and printing houses will become inoperable.
“In short, state institutions will encircle all the news sources of the people like an octopus, suffocate or loosen them before the upcoming elections.
“We journalists have scrutinized every article of the bill. Due to our responsibility towards society, we once again warn both the lawmakers and the public. If this law passes as it is, there will be no freedom of press, expression, and communication in our country. While we were voicing our objections in Parliament, we said, ‘Let’s rearrange these controversial articles in a way that is free from ambiguity,’ but they did not listen.
“We are now facing an unprecedented level of freedom of expression barrier in our history. This law imposes severe censorship, fines, inspections, and threats to society and the journalists that are a part of it and puts them in a position where they are unable to do their job.
“We will not accept this censorship, we will fight against this law with our readers, sectors, and colleagues. Today, we are calling for the last time to the group deputies of the parties that have a presence in the parliament to withdraw the bill.
“We need more democracy, not more censorship.”