Turkey Accused of ‘Persecuting’ Critical Media Ahead of Key Elections

A woman shows her child a picture of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, Turkey, 18 January 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN

"Twenty press freedom, freedom of expression and human rights organizations call on Turkey's broadcast regulator (RTUK) to immediately stop fining broadcasters for their critical reporting. Journalists and broadcasters must be allowed to do their jobs of informing the public over critical issues and holding the government to account," the joint statement said on Thursday.

Twenty media and human rights organizations, including Freedom House, the International Press Institute, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, the International Federation of Journalists, and Reporters Without Borders, are involved in this initiative.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council, RTUK, is a state agency that monitors and sanctions radio and television broadcasts.

"Instead of upholding freedom of expression and media pluralism in the country, RTUK is being weaponized by the governing parties to silence legitimate criticism and provide them with an unfair advantage in the May 2023 elections. This suppression of public debate is undermining the electoral process," the joint statement said.

In recent months, following devastating earthquakes in southern Turkey, RTUK has been increasingly penalising TV channels for their critical coverage of government policies and election processes.

"We view these incidents as part of the Turkish government's systematic attempt to stifle critical reporting and to control the information flow ahead of Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14, 2023," the statement said.

"We call on the Turkish broadcast regulator, RTUK, to immediately end the persecution...