German press organization advises media workers to avoid Turkey
The German Association of Journalists (DJV) has advised journalists not to travel to Turkey for business or private purposes, after it emerged that Gökay Akbulut, a member of the Left Party (Die Linke), has been arrested in Turkey. The DJV described such journeys as an ‘incalculable risk’ of being harassed for criticizing the Turkish state or its president.
The DJV issued a statement following the reported brief detention of German MP Gökay Akbulut at Antalya Airport. Referring to the arrest, journalist Frank Überall, chairman of the DJV, said: “This latest incident shows once again that the Erdogan autocracy sees its critics as ‘militant enemies of the state’ and persecutes them whenever they have the opportunity.” Überall added that “if even parliamentary immunity does not protect a person from being arrested in Turkey, the danger for journalists is much higher”. He continued his statement as follows: “Any journalist who has ever made critical comments about Turkey, its president or the governing AKP in their own articles and on social networks should stay away from the country.”
In an interview with the German daily Südwestrundfunk, Akbulut said she had been lucky in a difficult situation because she enjoys the benefits of German citizenship and lawmakers’ immunity, which is not the case for thousands of dissidents in Turkey facing similar political charges. Asked if she would return to Turkey, Akbulut replied that as a member of the German-Turkish Parliamentary Group she would travel to Turkey again. Akbulut stressed that she has been politically committed to the democratization of Turkey for years and will continue to do so. She added: “I think the whole thing was an intimidation attempt to silence me. And I will not put up with it”.
In response to a question at the German government’s press conference this morning about whether journalists are in greater danger than other professions, the Foreign Office spokesperson referred to the government’s travel advisory for Turkey. The statement has long warned of arbitrary arrests and detentions in Turkey, especially of dissidents and citizens of Alevi and Kurdish origin, who could be detained or sent back with an entry ban. The statement said such sanctions could be triggered by simply liking a post on social media or by accusations of insulting the president.