The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today announced the start of a high-level press freedom mission to Turkey December 5 to 7, 2018.
Led by IPI Executive Board Chair Markus Spillmann, the mission will meet with representatives of the Turkish government, foreign diplomats, journalists and members of civil society over the course of three days in Ankara and Istanbul. The mission will focus on the ongoing media crackdown in Turkey, which has seen the shuttering of nearly 170 media outlets since the failed coup attempt in 2016. 161 journalists are currently behind bars in Turkey according to IPI’s Free Turkey Journalists campaign, nearly all on baseless and frequently contradictory terrorism charges. IPI monitoring of trials across Turkey shows that journalists are subject to flawed judicial proceedings and denied basic rights of defendants under the European Convention of Human Rights, including in some cases the right to defend oneself in court.
Read our fact sheet on the state of press freedom in Turkey.
The mission delegation consists of:
• IPI Executive Board Chair Markus Spillmann
• IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi
• Sandy Bremner, former managing editor, North East and Northern Isles, BBC Scotland
• IPI Turkey Advocacy Coordinator Caroline Stockford
• IPI Head of Advocacy Ravi R. Prasad
At the conclusion of the mission the delegation will hold a press conference on Friday, December 7 in Istanbul, where IPI representatives will offer an assessment of conversations with various stakeholders and highlight the steps that must be taken to restore media freedom in Turkey and promote a healthy independent journalism sector.
Media contacts for mission:
IPI Turkey Advocacy Coordinator Caroline Stockford (English/Turkish): +90 537 419 21 79 or [email protected]
Details of press conference:
Date and time: Friday, December 7, 2019 at 10:00
Place: Adahan Hotel, General Yazgan Sokağı No: 14, 34430 Beyoğlu/Istanbul
About IPI:
Founded in 1950, IPI is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists dedicated to furthering and safeguarding press freedom, promoting the free flow of news and information, and improving the practices of journalism. IPI is a non-governmental organization and holds consultative status with the U.N., the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
