Euro-reporters.com, Belgium
July 7 2005
Turkish media freedom
Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson
“Despite some improvements, the amendments do not sufficiently
eliminate threats to freedom of expression and a free press,” said
Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
following a legal review of the new Turkish Penal Code. Penal reform,
together with recognition of Cyprus, is a precondition to the
European Union opening negotiations with Turkey on 3 October.
The revised Turkish Penal Code was finally approved by parliament on
29 June and has now to be published in the Official Gazette before
entering into force. Gone are the infamous explanatory ‘examples’ for
Article 305 concerning “offences against fundamental national
interests”. Two examples of ‘offences’ originally included were
removed from the explanatory “Reasoning Document” in the new Penal
Code. The ‘example’ indicated that it was a crime to demand the
withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus or claim there was a
genocide against Armenians.
Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media is
generally happy with the reform. He listed only 23 provisions that
still need to be revoked (see report). Haraszti says seven of the 23
changes suggested by the OSCE in May have been made.
“A welcome improvement is the deletion of most of the provisions
which assumed stronger sanctions when the media was involved,” said
Haraszti in a press statement. “Turkish lawmakers acknowledged that
information about crimes could be in the interest of free discussion
of public affairs.”
However, three major areas remain where media freedom is endangered
include the right of journalists to report and discuss on
public-interest issues, restrictions on access and disclosure of
information, defamation and insult provisions remain a criminal
rather than a civil offence.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress