The IPI global network welcomes the decision by Turkey’s Council of State to suspend a police directive banning journalists and members of the public from recording public demonstrations. The ruling is an important step toward safeguarding media coverage of protests in Turkey, which have recently been marred by cases of police violence.
The Council of State is the highest administrative court in Turkey, responsible for reviewing executive actions and judgements given by administrative courts. On November 11, 2021, the Council of State ordered the suspension of the April 2021 directive, saying that it restricted the freedoms of communication and the press and noting that fundamental rights can only be limited via legislation. The decision suspends the provisions of the police directive effective immediately, leaving the Council to rule on the directive’s full annulment at a later date.
“Journalists have both the right and primary responsibility to report on public protests. Preventing journalists from reporting on public events means hindering their basic journalistic activity,” IPI Turkey Programme Coordinator Renan Akyavaş said. “As we welcome the decision by the Council of State to reverse this loss in journalists’ rights, we call on the Council to evaluate the request for its full annulment without delay and to ensure the protection of press freedom, which is fundamental to any democratic system.”
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