The denial of accreditation to opposition media and the detention of journalists ahead of the NATO Leaders' Summit in Ankara were strongly condemned by the European Turkish Journalists' Union (ATGB). ATGB emphasized that "journalism is not a crime," drawing attention to press freedom.

It was alleged that numerous opposition media organizations had their accreditation applications rejected without explanation ahead of the NATO Leaders' Summit, scheduled to take place in Ankara on July 7-8.

It was claimed that many media outlets, including Cumhuriyet, ANKA News Agency, Sözcü, Halk TV, T24, Medyascope, and İlke TV, were not included in the NATO accreditation process.

In the letter reportedly sent by the accreditation unit of the NATO Strategic Communications Office, the decisions were stated to be "final," with the lack of appeal rights and absence of justification drawing attention.

RSF Turkey Representative Criticizes Transparency

In his assessment of the process, Erol Önderoğlu stated that the accreditation decisions lacked transparency, using the expressions, "the failure to provide reasons for rejection and the disregard for the right to appeal are unacceptable."

Reaction to Journalists' Detentions

Allegations that T24 Foreign Policy Editor Buse Söğütlü and OdaTV Editor Ceren Erdoğdu were detained without justification before the summit also drew public reaction.

In a statement made by the Journalists' Association of Turkey, it was emphasized that pressuring journalists due to their news activities and silencing them with the threat of detention is unacceptable. The statement called on authorities to act in accordance with the Constitution and professional principles.

Reaction to Deniz Göktaş's Arrest

Comedian and Uykusuz writer Deniz Göktaş, who was reportedly detained upon his return from abroad recently and subsequently arrested, was also a focus of the statement.

It was reported that Göktaş, who was arrested on charges of "insulting the President" and "denigrating religious values," argued in his statement that the remarks in question fell within the scope of political criticism.

ATGB: "Journalism Is Not a Crime"

In a statement by the European Turkish Journalists' Union, it was stated that practices targeting press freedom are incompatible with the principles of a democratic society, and the following assessment was included:

"It is not journalism, but targeting and threatening journalists that is a crime. Freedom of the press and expression is the foundation of a democratic society."

ATGB called for the immediate release of detained and arrested journalists, as well as Deniz Göktaş.

Call from Recai Aksu

Making a statement on behalf of the ATGB Board of Directors, President Recai Aksu stated that interventions against press freedom are unacceptable and called on authorities to act in accordance with the rule of law.


Call from ATGB

"The denial of "accreditation" to opposition media for the NATO summit is absolutely unacceptable!

We strongly condemn the detention of Oda TV and T24 editors!

"Uykusuz" writer and Comedian Deniz Göktaş must be released immediately!


Ahead of the NATO Leaders' Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8, a widespread accreditation barrier was imposed on opposition media. Accreditation applications from numerous opposition organizations and journalists, including Cumhuriyet, ANKA, Sözcü, Halk TV, T24, Medyascope, and İlke TV, were rejected by NATO "without justification," and journalists were not granted the right to appeal. In the official text sent by the accreditation unit of the NATO Strategic Communications Office, it was stated that the decision was final, and the inability to provide any justification for the censorship drew attention.

Many institutions and organizations not aligned with the government were thus prevented from covering the NATO summit by the decision. Despite almost all reporters whose accreditation requests were rejected holding official press cards, this was not taken into consideration by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications.


Erol Önderoğlu, Turkey Representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), also stated that the decision lacked transparency, that they found it difficult to understand this accreditation approach which closed the NATO summit to a significant portion of the Turkish media, and that they would never accept this procedure which failed to provide reasons for "rejection" and preemptively denied the right to appeal.


Before the NATO summit, T24 Foreign Policy Editor Buse Söğütlü and Oda TV Editor Ceren Erdoğdu were again detained without justification. In a statement published by TGC (Journalists' Association of Turkey), it was expressed with concern that Buse Söğütlü, T24 Foreign Policy Editor, and #Oda TV Editor Ceren Erdoğdu were detained before the NATO Summit, at a time when interventions against press and freedom of expression were dominating the country's agenda. It was stated that pressuring journalists for their news and commentary activities carried out for the public good, and attempting to silence them with the threat of detention, is absolutely unacceptable. The statement called on authorities to act in accordance with the principles set forth by the Constitution and the Turkish Journalists' Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities; and to cease obstructing press and freedom of expression.


Furthermore, the detention and subsequent arrest of comedian and "Uykusuz" magazine writer Deniz Göktaş, who was taken into custody at the airport upon his return from an overseas holiday recently, is absolutely unacceptable, both for our humor tradition and for freedom of thought. While it is encouraging that many institutions and organizations support young stand-up comedian Deniz Göktaş, known for his political sketches that aim to both entertain and provoke thought, there is also an attempt to pave the way for a societal division.

Göktaş, who was arrested on charges of "Insulting the President and Denigrating Religious Values," stated in his initial testimony that he absolutely had no approach of insult or denigration, that the word "Dictator" was a political observation frequently discussed in public, and that he had no intention or aim to denigrate either the President or religious values.


As ATGB, we reiterate once again that;

It is not journalism, but targeting and threatening journalists that is a crime. Freedom of the press and expression is the foundation of a democratic society.

As the European Turkish Journalists' Union (ATGB), we demand the immediate release of our journalist friends and Deniz Göktaş!


Journalism Is Not a Crime!

Free Press Cannot Be Silenced!

European Turkish Journalists' Union (ATGB)

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Recai Aksu (President)"