Seven Turkish opposition broadcasters are threatened with restrictions by the national broadcasting authority. They are investigating because of “humiliating statements” about the Turkish people, it said.
Because of their reporting on the elections in Turkey, local opposition broadcasters must expect negative consequences. After the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the national broadcasting authority announced that investigations had been launched into a total of seven broadcasters that had broadcast “humiliating statements” about the Turkish people on election night.
It wasn’t clear at first whether it was about the presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14 or the runoff election for the presidency last Sunday. Statements by a journalist were quoted as an example: ballot boxes do not make democracy.
The Turkish government directly or indirectly controls much of the media landscape. Observers see the limited freedom of the press as one reason for Erdogan’s electoral success. The broadcasting authority is considered to be close to the government. According to a ranking by the organization Reporters Without Borders, Turkey is ranked 165th out of 180 in terms of press freedom. Germany is 21st.
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
