Menu Close

Αναρτήσεις

Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot journalist harassed by the Turkish government

Από International Federation of Journalists (IFJ),

14 January 2021
ενημέρωση από την ΕΣΚ

Turkish Cypriot journalist and publisher Sener Levent is the target of a harassment campaign by the Turkish authorities for his critical reporting on the Turkish government policies on Cyprus. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) join their affiliates, the Union of Cyprus Journalists and the Turkish Cypriot Trade Union of Press Workers Basin Sen in condemning the Turkish attempts to shut down press freedom.

Sener Levent (L), editor of Turkish-language daily newspaper Afrika. Credit: Birol Bebek / AFP

Journalist Sener Levent, the editor-in-chief of Afrika newspaper, has been targeted by official and unofficial means by the Turkish government and faces numerous court proceedings because of his reporting.

The Turkish government is now demanding that Sener Levent’s trial for three different articles in his newspaper be held in Ankara, Turkey. Ιf extradited, the journalist would charges that could send him to prison for several years.

Turkey is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world, with 67 journalists are currently in prison for doing their job, according to the IFJ and EFJ Turkish affiliate TGS.

The Levent’s case reveals that the Turkish government is also trying to extend media censorship and harassment beyond its borders. A Turkish court recently condemned journalist Can Dündar, who is exiled in Germany since 2016, to 27 years in prison over terrorism and espionage charges.

The IFJ and EFJ consider all these persecutions a flagrant violation of press freedom and freedom of expression and urge again the Turkish government to immediately stop the crackdown on media freedom.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “Sener Levent’s extradition to Turkey must be prevented by all means as there’s a huge risk that he will be prosecuted and condemned for his work as a journalist. We back the Union of Press Workers (Basin-Sen) and the Union of Cyprus’ Journalists (ESK), and urge freedom of expression to be fully respected in the island.”

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

Follow the IFJ on TwitterFacebook and Instagram

Subscribe to IFJ News

Posted in Politics

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *