EU urges Turkey to respect media freedom
-
A plainclothes police officer kicks a demonstrator as Turkish anti-riot police officers disperse supporters in front of the headquarters of the Turkish daily newspaper Zaman in Istanbul on March 5, 2016. © AFP
The European Union (EU) has called on Turkey to respect media freedom after Turkish police took control of the opposition newspaper Zaman.
“The EU has repeatedly stressed that Turkey, as (an EU) candidate country, needs to respect and promote high democratic standards and practices, including freedom of the media,” the EU's diplomatic service said in a statement on Saturday.
On Friday afternoon, police forces clashed with demonstrators in a bid to smash their way into the office building and enforce a ruling handed down earlier in the day by the Istanbul Sixth Criminal Court of Peace ordering the management of the newspaper and its editorial board to be replaced by the board of trustees assigned by the court.
The court decision came at the request of the Istanbul prosecutor and sparked angry protests in front of the newspaper's office.
“Free, diverse and independent media constitute one of the cornerstones of a democratic society by facilitating the free flow of information and ideas, and by ensuring transparency and accountability,” the EU statement said.
“Any country, and in particular those negotiating EU accession, needs to guarantee fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and due judicial process, in line with the European Convention on Human Rights,” it added.
ME
