Journalists association report warns of rising intolerance in Turkey

ANKARA

A report published by the Ankara Journalists Association has examined the intensifying environment of intolerance in Turkish society.

The association’s February 2015 report for the Press for Freedom Project touched on various topics, ranging from violence against women to freedom of expression.

The report particularly criticized the representation of women across the Turkish media, describing the language used as prizing “male chauvinism.”

It also cited recent examples such as the killing of journalist Nuh Köklü and the brutal murder of 20-year-old student Özgecan Aslan, stressing that it these are the result of social problems.

The report criticized the bans on attending government press conferences handed to a range of media organizations.

In addition, it slammed recent violations of freedom of expression and freedom of the press, referring to the 67 people who have been taken into custody in the first two months of this year on charges of “insulting” or “defaming” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan or other state authorities.

In particular, the questioning of Can Dündar, the editor-in-chief of daily Cumhuriyet, and the arrest of Hayrettin Karaca, the president of the Samanyolu Broadcasting Group, were highlighted as evidence of the media coming under increasing pressure.

The report voiced concerns about the controversial internal security package that is currently being debated in parliament, warning that the legal amendments could inculcate a “further state of intolerance.”