1,863 Turkish journalists fired during AKP rule, opposition report says

ANKARA

The CHP presented its report titled 'Journalists Whose Pens Are Broken' on Oct. 27. DHA Photo

Some 1,863 journalists have been fired in the 12 years of Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Veli Ağbaba said, while releasing a new party report on the issue.

The report, titled “Journalists Whose Pens Are Broken,” has been printed as a book, and includes 42 media workers telling the story of their dismissals, Ağbaba told reporters on Oct. 27, adding that 20 of these individuals did not even want to be named, fearing the consequences.

He also stressed that the number of unionized journalists had decreased markedly in recent years, from 21 percent in 2009 to just 4.7 percent in 2014, according to the report penned by the CHP.

The AKP has become the “biggest media boss” of Turkey, Ağbaba said, adding that the CHP would also be sending the report to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The report includes three lists: Individually dismissed journalists, collectively fired journalists, and currently imprisoned journalists.

It also includes the warnings of several international organizations about the grave state of Turkish media freedom.

Ağbaba said the report would be translated and sent on to international organizations.

Prominent CHP deputy Özgür Özel, meanwhile, described the lack of an “independent, real press union as the most important lesson to be taken from the report.”