Thousands of people marched Sunday in the streets of downtown Istanbul to protest the recent arrests of journalists and in defense of press freedom in Turkey.
"Journalists today expressed his personal rights as employees, and the right of people to be informed, "said Ercan İpekçi, president of the Freedom Platform Journalists (GOP), in a joint statement read at the protest, drawn up by the 92 local and national organizations which includes the association.
"Journalists are not here today because they fear being judged or arrested, but rather because they are deeply concerned about the voice of the people is being restricted and that the right to be informed is to be embarrassed," he added İpekçi to read the statement.
Thousands of journalists and other professionals on Sunday toured the famous İstiklal Avenue in Istanbul for more than an hour, demanding the immediate release of journalists arrested in connection with the investigation into the coup plot "Ergenekon", while demanding amendments in the Turkish legislation in all those articles that is restricted press freedom, including the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK) and anti-terrorist law. In the crowded distiguidas march included political figures and especially the media, and relatives of the journalists currently in detention.
"Do not calleis, shout: a free press is a right," shouted demonstrators. Other slogans chanted by the participants said: "The press is free, can not be kept silent," "For Hrant, for Justice" (in relation to Turkish-Armenian journalist murdered in 2007), "AKP, your hands away media "," No shut up, or you will be next ", or" Ahmet Nedim, you are our pride, "referring to the last journalists arrested. The protesters also carried signs that read messages like "Freedom to Journalists!" Or "Justice, Freedom, now."
According to the data handled by the GOP platform, there are 68 journalists in prison in Turkey, and another 150 who could be jailed. "There are still 68 journalists currently imprisoned. Another 30 were released in 2009, but their cases are still before the courts. At least 98 journalists have been in jail," said the spokesman of the movement.
health workers protests
But not only witnessed the protest yesterday. In the capital, Ankara, health workers protested on Sunday in protest at government policies in relation to the sector.
The march, organized by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and other unions, called for the rectification of the policy pursued by the Ministry of Health, including its recent decision to establish a new medical assessment which aims to bring his salary to the number of patients they treat.
The organizers also criticized other health care reforms, what they describe as the privatization of health services in Turkey, and said they would go on strike if their demands are not met.
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