The members of the International Press Institute (IPI), meeting at their 60th Annual General during the IPI World Congress on 26 September 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan, adopted by unanimous vote a resolution calling on Turkey to respect freedom of the press.

Turkey’s Justice Ministry has acknowledged that at least 64 journalists are currently imprisoned in Turkey, many facing unspecified criminal charges. Many journalists – particularly those detained in connection with the “Ergenekon” probe into an alleged clandestine, ultra-nationalist organization with possible ties to members of the country’s military and security forces which has been accused of plotting to use terrorism to overthrow the government – have not been informed of the charges they face, nor have their lawyers, and many are subject to lengthy pre-trial imprisonment. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has publicly affirmed Turkey’s commitment to press freedom, but has also publicly impugned the motives of those who exercise such freedoms, accusing them of defamation. Such statements, accompanied by raids on Turkish journalists’ homes and businesses, create a climate of fear among journalists

The IPI members resolved that the right of journalists to cover sensitive topics, including national security, is fundamental, and that they should not face arrest, charges, imprisonment or any other form of harassment or intimidation for carrying out their duties. The members further resolved that the Turkish government should make public any allegations of criminal activity by journalists, and allow the accused to confront such evidence in a timely manner in an open and fair hearing that complies with international standards of due process. The members also resolved that Turkey should restrict criminalization of speech only to clear instances of intentional incitement to violence and allow journalists to subject government action to independent and open scrutiny.

The IPI members called on the Turkish government to release imprisoned journalists.