Press freedom in Turkey | KBIA « Global Freedom Movement

By REHMAN TUNGEKAR

Turkey stands at the world’s crossroads, both geographically and culturally. The country straddles the continents of Europe and Asia and is a contentious candidate for European Union membership.

Turkey is a Muslim country, but a secular democracy. To strengthen its EU bid, the country has undertaken political and economic reforms.

And free press advocates believe Turkey has the potential to inspire emerging democracies in the Middle East and North Africa. However, the government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has instead been repressing free speech by silencing its critics.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe found recently that the number of journalists imprisoned in Turkey nearly doubled over the past year. The International Press Institute — the I.P.I — says Turkey now has more journalists in prison than any other country in the world.

Global Journalist host David Reed was joined by the I.P.I’s executive director, Alison McKenzie, along with Turkish journalists Ferai Tinç and Kadri Gursel.

KBIA.

via Press freedom in Turkey | KBIA « Global Freedom Movement.