A recently released quarterly press report by the Contemporary Journalists’ Association (ÇGD) has revealed that 318 journalists were detained and 103 of them were jailed in Turkey over the past year, the Evrensel daily reported.
According to the report, 1,404 journalists have lost their jobs and 147 media organizations have been closed down since a state of emergency was declared in the aftermath of a botched coup attempt on July, 15, 2016.
The report also revealed that one journalist lost their life, two news websites were closed down, access was denied to 25 news websites and 624 press cards and 32 parliament press cards were revoked, while four foreign journalists were deported from Turkey in the same period.
The report also said 39 journalists were detained, 26 of them were arrested and 89 were fired from their jobs during the months of April, May and June 2017.
During the last three months, access was denied to eight news websites, six press members were assaulted, the house of one press member was attacked and three foreign press members were deported from Turkey.
“The oppression is now directly targeting the real owners of the news, that is the public: you, me and all of us,” said the report.
Criticizing the arrest of journalists and deputies, the report stated that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government is aiming to destroy citizens’ access to information and their ability to make a decision while silencing the press.
According to the report, the media organizations that were seized by the government during the state of emergency have been transferred to pro-AKP businesses.