Crackdown on democrat and opposition media

On the day the National Security Council decided to extend state of emergency rule, 20 democrat and opposition TV channels, and radios have been disabled with a decree-law, enacted by the Prime Ministry.

The broadcast of Azadi TV, Denge TV, Hayatın Sesi TV, Jiyan TV, TV 10, Van TV, Zarok TV, Ses Radio, Dünya Radio, and Yön Radio, which are watched and listened by Kurds and Alawites, has been darkened as they have been removed from the satellite provider, TURKSAT. To make matters worse, assets of those institutions have been seized. This, without a doubt, is an attempt to destroy. 

This decree by the Prime Ministry means, from now on independent broadcasting in mainly Kurdish and any other native tongue is forbidden. This act is not only against the domestic laws, but also against the international conventions, Turkey is a signatory to. 

This approach, executed by a committee of Prime Ministry, has no base in any law. These TV channels have commercial treaties with TURKSAT. The fact that they are removed from the satellite provider is a piratical approach. Furthermore, this approach by the Prime Ministry seizes the audit mandate of RTÜK, Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey. 

President Erdoğan and his AKP, rule the country with decree-laws provided by state of emergency rule, by ignoring the parliament, universal human rights, and principles of democracy. Erdoğan and his AKP cannot tolerate any opposition voices.

These TV channels were targeted, for they did not whistleblow, obey, kneel or yield to the government. They did not take part in the emails, revealed a few days ago, and still not denied by their interlocutors, showing the links between Dogan Media, biggest media company in Turkey, and the palace. These channels have been targeted, for they were the voice of labor, democracy, and the rightful demands of the Kurds and Alawites. 

This government cannot stand the media outlets, reporting on problems and demands of Kurds, and other minorities, beliefs, cultures, identities, as well as, the oppression and cruelty they are exposed to everyday. 

The crackdown on independent and opposition media is a clear sign that the oppression and intimidation policies against all social segments will accelerate. Erdoğan and his AKP are zone cleaning, in their own perspective, before they launch a comprehensive crackdown on our deputies, local administrations, democratic political arenas, and institutions.

If freedom of speech, thought, communication and information is blocked in a country, it means anything could be done at any time. 'Let sleeping dogs lie' approach can only mean new miseries, and unlawful acts against democracy and human rights every day. 

We condemn and protest this unlawful decision and approach. We call upon all media institutions, mainly the Press Council and Turkey Association of Press, to take legal initiative to withdraw this unfair and unlawful act.  We urge the mass media outlets to raise their voices against this unlawful act. 

CSOs, political parties, unions, employee associations, democratic organizations and institutions should be in solidarity and should not stay silent.