Her Excellency Tansu Ciller
Prime Minister of Turkey
Prime Minister’s Office
Ankara
Turkey

Vienna, 22 November1993

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), representing over 2000 journalists and editors from leading newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organizations and news agencies in 68 countries, is most concerned about the threatened suspension of the Istanbul daily Özgür Ündem.

We are informed that the Istanbul State Security Court (IDGM) has demanded that the newspaper be suspended for 15 days. The suspension is to come into effect after its expected confirmation by the Court of Appeal.

IPI considers the suspension of newspapers to be a violation of the news media’s right to freely gather and distribute information, as well as the public’s right to receive such information. We therefore strongly urge your Government to prevent the suspension of Özgür Ündem and to allow that newspaper to publish without further harassment.

I should be most grateful if you were to give this appeal your personal attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director