A court where journalists from the Zaman newspaper were tried is seen in Istanbul on July 6, 2018. CPJ joined 12 other groups in issuing a statement calling on U.N. member states to urge Turkey to improve its freedom of speech record. (AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)
A court where journalists from the Zaman newspaper were tried is seen in Istanbul on July 6, 2018. CPJ joined 12 other groups in issuing a statement calling on U.N. member states to urge Turkey to improve its freedom of speech record. (AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)

CPJ joins call to UN rights council for end to press crackdown in Turkey

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 12 other press freedom and freedom of expression organizations calling on the member states of the U.N. Human Rights Council to urge Turkey to end its repressive policies against independent reporting and free speech.

In a statement delivered at the 42nd session of the council on September 18 by a representative of U.K. freedom of expression group Article 19, CPJ and the other signatories expressed concern about the Turkish government’s continuing crackdown on media and civic society, including the imprisonment of dozens of journalists and media workers, the forced closure of media outlets and websites, and the arbitrary nature of trials.

The statement urged Turkey to take immediate steps to restore the rule of law and end its assault on media freedom and civil society.

The full text of the statement is here.