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Turkey Cannot Defend Record On Press Freedom

Kadri Gursel writes that by criminalizing any press article that seems sympathetic to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), the Turkish government worsens its image as a leading violator of press freedom.
Journalists and activists participate in a rally calling for press freedom in central Ankara March 19, 2011. The recent arrest and jailing of some 10 journalists as part of investigations into Ergenekon, an ultra-nationalist, secularist network opposed to Prime Minister's Tayyip Erdogan's rule, has a triggered expressions of concern from the European Union, the U.S. and human rights groups about Ankara's commitment to media freedom and democratic principles. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: CIVIL UNREST

Turkey holds a notorious world “championship” title: it's the country that keeps the largest number of journalists behind bars. And no one in the world no longer questions whether Turkey is being done injustice.

All major international groups advocating press freedoms agree that Turkey fully deserves the championship in imprisoning journalists.

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