The Campfire Media Festival 2022’, where media institutions and employees traditionally come together, was held in Düsseldorf. The International Journalist Association (IJA), which was among the participants of the festival, shared with the public an international report prepared on journalists whose property was illegally confiscated at this important media meeting. Dec. Authoritarian governments often use the label of ‘terrorism’ to intimidate the public and silence intellectuals. The ‘financing of terrorism’ law No. 6415 in the Turkish Penal Code makes this weapon useful. According to the report; The assets of 770 people were frozen on the charge of ‘financing terrorism’ with two decrees issued in 2021 in Turkey without even the need for a court decision. The list includes 34 journalists. The journalists in question are unable to perform many financial transactions because of this practice.
Turkey accepts black money from abroad without question. International organizations are also pressure Ankara so that black money does not circulate through Turkey. Turkey is on the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force on the Prevention of Money Laundering (FATF) established within the framework of the OECD. The Grey List means that countries with deficiencies and risks of money laundering and terrorist financing are kept under close surveillance. At this point, FATF told Turkey, which is on the gray list, ‘Freeze assets related to terrorism’. The Erdogan Regime, on the other hand, turned this desire into an opportunity for itself. No matter how many dissidents they wanted to silence, were stuffed into a bag and announced in a list with a decree. The list of 770 people, including 34 journalists, was sent to financial intelligence agencies by linking them to terrorism. Because of an extremely vague and abstract accusation, journalists abroad face obstacles in everyday banking transactions.
It is not just the 34 journalists on the Decree Law lists whose assets have been frozen. The property of many journalists who have been imprisoned in Turkey for years has also been confiscated. These journalists have lost both their freedom and their assets.
In the report prepared; International organizations should not accept Ankara’s trumped-up decrees and it is requested to prevent abuse.
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