The International Journalists Association became the voice of imprisoned journalists.
Our association participated in the Book Fair held in Frankfurt, Germany, and held many events.
At the stand, opened at the world’s largest book fair, the analysis of ‘8 Books’ prepared by the International Journalists Association attracted great attention.
In the analysis put into a clip, the great similarity between the tragedies and lawlessness described in the selected 8 books and what is happening in Turkey today is highlighted.
Our association participated in the fair with the theme “The stories you read in these Books are now being rewritten in Turkey”.
The analysis reveals how innocent people were declared guilty step by step by the dictatorial regime in Turkey and the suffering these people faced.
For those who visited our stand at the fair, the 3rd edition of the Journalist POST magazine published by our association presented as a gift.
The magazine’s cover file is published on November 2, International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists”, in which journalists who have been tortured or killed.
With Turkish, English and German options, the magazine included 20 journalists’ interviews from Turkey. Journalists, many of whom lived in exile, described the difficulties and lawlessness they experienced.
The magazine includes journalists from 12 different countries also touched on the problems experienced by journalists in Belarus, Afghanistan and Egypt.
Turkish, English and German video screenings were made about the imprisoned journalists during the 5-day fair.
Another important event at the fair was the presentation of the ‘Accused Pages’ special report, which was announced for the first time.
The report was prepared in cooperation with the International Journalists Association and the Belgium-based Solidarity With Others Association.
The report, which deals with books banned in Turkey after July 15, 2016, also revealed the book massacre.
In Turkey, where even those who own books with banderols, printed with the permission of the state, are imprisoned on terrorism charges, the number of books burned or destroyed by the state itself reached millions.
Like journalists, it is known that some authors have been jailed for their books.
Live broadcasts were made from our stand, which also attracted the attention of media organizations.
Journalists Ahmet Nesin, Cevheri Guven, writers Kazim Gundogan, Haydar Karatas, Nezahat Gundogan and Academician Prof. Kemal Bozay were among our visitors.
On the most crowded day of the fair, a silent march was held for journalists and their detained, tried or repressed colleagues in Turkey.
In the statement read before the march, it was emphasized that journalists were arrested in Turkey for what they wrote, and it was stated that it was impossible to maintain free journalism.
The statement noted that repressive regimes such as China, Russia, Belarus, which unlawfully punish journalists, are similar to the Erdogan regime in Turkey.
The statement also reminded that tens of thousands of people were accused of coup and tried after the July 15 coup attempt, stressing that the bill was also cut to journalists.
Our association members also participated in the action organized by the German Writers’ Union, the organizer of the fair, on Goetheplatz for the release of detained journalists in Belarus and Turkey.
During the fair; A brochure was distributed to our visitors giving information about the detained journalists and activities of our association.
