Journalists under threat from anti-terrorism law

Reporters Without Borders is astounded by the sentences that Turkish journalists are facing just for doing their job. Since an amendment to the anti-terrorism law took effect in 2006, media personnel have been exposed to the possibility of long spells in jail just for covering ordinary news developments including judicial proceedings. One of the latest victims is photographer Nurettin Kurt of the daily Hürriyet, who is facing a possible three-year jail sentence under article 6-1 of the anti-terrorism law for photographing an army colonel who was giving evidence in an investigation into an alleged plot against the prime minister. Although most of the Turkish media have been covering the investigation, Hürriyet’s managing editor, Hasan Kiliç, has also been charged under same article for allowing the photo to be printed. Kurt and Kiliç are accused of “exposing an official on anti-terrorist duties to a terrorist organisation” although the authorities have yet to say which “terrorist organisation” the colonel has been exposed to as a result of the photo’s publication. “The publication of this photo would be an integral part of journalism anywhere else in the world,” Kurt said. “I am shocked that it is the subject of an investigation here.” Under article 6-2 of the anti-terrorism law, reporters can be sentenced to three years in prison for “any dissemination of the statements and communiqués of terrorist organisations,” while media owners and editors can be given heavy fines. Under article 7-2, any form of “propaganda for a terrorist organisation” is punishable by one to five years in prison, or half as much again if news media are used, in which case the media owners and editors may also be subject to heavy fines. Reporters Without Borders regards these sentences as shocking and absurd and condemns this law’s use to gag the media. Turkey was ranked 122nd out of 175 countries in the 2009 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.