Broadcast equipment is placed on a poster during a protest in Istanbul in October 2017 over Turkey's press freedom crackdown. CPJ is joining a call for Turkish authorities to release all journalists jailed for their work. (AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Broadcast equipment is placed on a poster during a protest in Istanbul in October 2017 over Turkey's press freedom crackdown. CPJ is joining a call for Turkish authorities to release all journalists jailed for their work. (AP/Lefteris Pitarakis)

CPJ joins call for Turkey to release jailed journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 47 members of the European Parliament and other press freedom organizations to call on Turkey to end its crackdown on the press and the mass imprisonment of journalists.

The statement includes recommendations to the Turkish authorities including that it releases all journalists imprisoned for their work and protects the right to freedom of expression and the right to receive or disseminate news. The statement calls on European Union institutions to reinforce the recommendations in discussions with Turkish ministers.

Turkey is the worst jailer of journalists, with at least 68 in jail in direct relation to their work at the time of CPJ’s latest prison census.

The full statement can be read here.