ID :
166590
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 18:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/166590
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Turkish premier says none of journalists at prison are there for their journalism
ANKARA (A.A) - 08.03.2011 - Turkey's prime minister said on Tuesday that none of the journalists who were currently kept at prisons were there because of their journalism.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the recent arrests were totally made by the decision of judicial organs, and the government was not involved in that process.
"Even one of the 27 journalists kept in prisons are there for their journalism," Erdogan told a parliament gathering of his Justice & Development (AK) Party in Ankara.
The premier's remarks came after a number of journalists were detained and arrested last week.
Erdogan said none of the journalists were imprisoned for criticizing the government or for their journalistic activities, but they were there on charges of trying to change the constitutional order by force, being members of an armed terrorist organization, sexual abuse, owning weapons, and cheating on official documents.
Erdogan said it was so wrong to ask the government to express its opinion about a trial process in which it was not involved, and it was a huge mistake to try to associate the proces with the government and to try to weaken the government that way.
Erdogan asked if there was any newspaper, the headlines of which the government tried to intervene, for the last eight years.
"They will say whatever they want, they will write whatever they want, and we will only remain silent. I am living in a democratic, secular, social state of law and so I can seek my rights at courts," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said there were many newspapers and columnists that were systematically criticizing and insulting the government, however the government was strong enough to counter the media and defend itself.
"The AK Party has come to power as a representative of a huge mass who has been urged to remain silent, who has been oppressed and whose freedoms have been taken off," he said.
The prime minister said he had expressed in every opportunity his respect to freedom of press and expression as a person who had been convicted of reading a poem.
"We are trying to broaden democracy and freedoms," he said.
Erdogan said freedom of press could only be possible within a democracy, and no one could talk about freedom of press and expression in an atmosphere where there was no democracy and high standard.
Turkey's prime minister said AK Party would take action if it saw any type of pressure or restriction towards freedom of press or any regression in human rights.
Erdogan said some journalists could be used by certain groups deliberately or unintentionally around the world and they could serve certain circles outside journalistic activities.
The prime minister also said the Justice Ministry had sent to the Prime Ministry a package envisaging amendments to the Press Law, which was eliminating deficiencies and changing articles that could be misinterpreted.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the recent arrests were totally made by the decision of judicial organs, and the government was not involved in that process.
"Even one of the 27 journalists kept in prisons are there for their journalism," Erdogan told a parliament gathering of his Justice & Development (AK) Party in Ankara.
The premier's remarks came after a number of journalists were detained and arrested last week.
Erdogan said none of the journalists were imprisoned for criticizing the government or for their journalistic activities, but they were there on charges of trying to change the constitutional order by force, being members of an armed terrorist organization, sexual abuse, owning weapons, and cheating on official documents.
Erdogan said it was so wrong to ask the government to express its opinion about a trial process in which it was not involved, and it was a huge mistake to try to associate the proces with the government and to try to weaken the government that way.
Erdogan asked if there was any newspaper, the headlines of which the government tried to intervene, for the last eight years.
"They will say whatever they want, they will write whatever they want, and we will only remain silent. I am living in a democratic, secular, social state of law and so I can seek my rights at courts," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said there were many newspapers and columnists that were systematically criticizing and insulting the government, however the government was strong enough to counter the media and defend itself.
"The AK Party has come to power as a representative of a huge mass who has been urged to remain silent, who has been oppressed and whose freedoms have been taken off," he said.
The prime minister said he had expressed in every opportunity his respect to freedom of press and expression as a person who had been convicted of reading a poem.
"We are trying to broaden democracy and freedoms," he said.
Erdogan said freedom of press could only be possible within a democracy, and no one could talk about freedom of press and expression in an atmosphere where there was no democracy and high standard.
Turkey's prime minister said AK Party would take action if it saw any type of pressure or restriction towards freedom of press or any regression in human rights.
Erdogan said some journalists could be used by certain groups deliberately or unintentionally around the world and they could serve certain circles outside journalistic activities.
The prime minister also said the Justice Ministry had sent to the Prime Ministry a package envisaging amendments to the Press Law, which was eliminating deficiencies and changing articles that could be misinterpreted.
