In 1993, the United Nations decided to celebrate May 3rd worldwide as ‘World Press Freedom Day’ in order to emphasize the role of the press in protecting democracy. Since then, communication technologies have improved, the use of the Internet has become widespread. But one thing has not changed: the repression against journalists and the threat to freedom of expression and the press. Freedom of expression and the press are in decline due to increasing authoritarian governments all over the world and are under great threat.
The COVID-19 period has once again shown the importance of accurate news and information to all humanity. Then the war, which started with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, revealed how propaganda and disinformation-based broadcasting are used as weapons in the hands of countries. In this war, a lot of work has given to journalists and continues to be given, so that people can learn the facts by saving them from propaganda and misinformation.
Many journalists who criticized the war in Russia were put into prison or forced to go abroad. Journalists in many countries, from Mexico to China, are still experiencing great difficulties. There is a record increase in the number of imprisoned journalists in the world. According to the figures of independent non-governmental organizations, more than 600 journalists are in prison all over the world.
Just last week, many journalists of Kurdish origin were detained in Turkey, 4 journalists were arrested. Two journalists, Dicle Müftüoğlu and Sedat Yılmaz, who were protesting the arrest of their colleagues, were arrested at exactly 1.30 am, just around the time of the 3 May World Press Freedom Day. More than 70 journalists are in prison in Turkey. Journalists such as Mehmet Baransu, Hidayet Karaca, Gültekin Avcı have been behind bars for more than 7 years. Journalist Abdurrahman Gok became a target of the regime for taking a photo of a teenager who was killed by a police bullet and was jailed days before the elections. Serdar Altan, Co-Chairman of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association, has been in prison for months on the grounds of his publications.
Journalists are targeted and subjected to heavy pressure. May 3 is the day to explain the importance of press freedom, that journalists are indispensable for democracy and human rights. Today is the day to take care of the targeted journalists and all media workers.
On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, we spread once again: The truth makes people free. Journalists and media workers who do their job well; They work hard, paying prices despite the risk of losing their lives and going to prison so that you can find out the facts. We should be vigilant about the increasing freedom of press and expression all over the world, and we should fight for journalists to be able to write and speak freely.
International Journalists Association e.V.