CHP Istanbul Deputy Barış Yarkadaş has reacted against the report prepared for Deniz Yücel by the Directorate General of Press and Information. Yarkadaş said “If the related office is searching for enmity against Turkey, they should take a look at the policies of the government… They are harming Turkey to the greatest extent by imprisoning 151 journalists.”
Die Welt Newspaper Turkey Representative Deniz Yücel, who was arrested just the day before, has once again been pointed as a target by the partisan media. AKP’s publication organ Star Newspaper has published Directorate General of Press and Information’s report on Deniz Yücel as a headline. It has been stated in the report that Deniz Yücel has published 54 news items so far and they were all “opposing Turkey.”
They can’t convince
CHP Deputy Barış Yarkadaş on the other hand, has responded to the report. Yarkadaş said, “The ones who arrested Deniz Yücel can’t convince the public opinion, neither domestically nor internationally. They can’t put forth an argument or a proof that would convince the public. Instead, they are searching for ways to legitimize Yücel’s arrest through news, they are trying to fabricate a cover.”
Yarkadaş who reminded that Deniz Yücel was arrested over an anecdote he shared with his readers named “Don’t let the Kurd see his mother” also said, “Even though arresting an individual over an anecdote is already funny in itself, the partisan media is doing something even funnier… They are sharing the number of articles Yücel wrote and they are trying to fabricate a reasoning to his arrest. The people who are trying to convince the European society with such reports, are putting our country in a lamentable situation.”
He is being pointed as a target
Yarkadaş who argued that Deniz Yücel is being “shown as an enemy and being demonized” via the partisan media, also stated:
“Directorate General of Press and Information has published a report on Deniz Yücel based on its’ bylaws. Related institution has made a list of the news that it qualified as opposing Turkey. This institution that entered into AKP’s service should look at their governments inventions if they are in search for something that’s in opposition to Turkey. The actual ones who are in opposition to Turkey are the ones who arrested 151 journalists, left 2500 journalists jobless, cancelled 800 press cards and passports and closed down 173 media organizations. Press Publication Office is an accomplice to these crimes. The government and the Press Publication Office has taken part in opposing Turkey.”
The mask has fallen
Yarkadaş who stated that he read the seven page testimony given by Deniz Yücel at the 9th Criminal Magistracy of Peace, said “I am sure the ones who have prepared this report and published it as a headline are unaware of the accusations… Regardless, to vindicate the government, they are trying to punish a journalist with headlines, without paying any attention to testimonies.”
CHP Deputy who argued that Deniz Yücel’s arrest has helped “AKP’s democratic mask” to fall off, also said “Now, they are all trying to renew the mask in cooperation. But that mask would no longer work. Everyone has seen AKP’s hostile attitude towards journalists. All of Europe is talking about Deniz Yücel’s arrest.”
‘What will happen to the ones who met with Cemil Bayık?’
Yarkadaş who argued that Deniz Yücel’s interview with PKK leader Cemil Bayık has been portrayed as a crime, said “If this is against the law, why aren’t the individuals who met with Cemil Bayık on behalf of AKP being put on trial?” CHP Deputy also said “According to our laws, you can’t even legally open an investigation against an interview that took place two years ago. However, journalists are being arrested over interviews that can’t even be investigated. The laws are being disregarded.”
Yarkadaş who stated that Directorate General of Press and Information’s report on Deniz Yücel is “frightening”, said “This way, they have revealed that they are blacklisting every journalist. Therefore; every foreign journalist might be taken into custody and be arrested, based on one article from bylaws. This report is also an intimidation against foreign newspapers.”
The intimidation is pushing its’ limits
Yarkadaş who reminded that one of DGPI duties is to ‘take precautions to enable foreign and domestic press and publication organ’s to work without intervention and to make necessary arrangements’, has continued with the words:
“On the World Press Freedom Index, our country has regressed back to the 151st place. The number of journalists who are imprisoned has surpassed 150. DGPI is the biggest accomplice to this disgrace. Censorship has been systematized in our country. The censorship has started to affect foreign journalists as well. With the report that has allegedly been prepared by DGPI, foreign press members are also trying to be intimidated. Under such heavy circumstances and oppression, how can journalists feel safe?”
Yarkadaş who suggested that DGPI should immediately get rid of the “blacklist” also said, “The public from all around the world was able to see the oppressive attitude the government embraces from up close with this report.”
