“The area of freedom of press and speech has become the main object of criticism of Turkey on the international platforms. Among countries often criticizing Turkey – France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States. Is the unlimited freedom of press protected in these countries? Specific examples clearly demonstrate that the situation [in these countries] is not so perfect,” the statement, received by the RIA Novosti, read.
The statement notes that after passing a controversial Investigatory Powers Bill, also dubbed as the “snooper charter” in the United Kingdom on November 18, the UK authorities required police to destroy a hard drive of the computer, which contained documents of the US National Security Agency (NSA), transmitted to The Guardian newspaper by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
It also said that Canadian journalist Ed Ou, who wanted to cover the protests over pipeline in the US state of Dakota, was refused entry to the United States. During the Fergusson unrest in August 2014, 14 journalists from Anadolu news agency, newspapers Die Welt and Bild were arrested by US police.
The European Union has been repeatedly accusing Turkey of what it perceived as multiple cases of human rights violations, in particular the arrests of over 13,000 people following the failed coup attempt in July. Since the suppression of the coup numerous news websites in Turkey have been shut down at the request of the prime minister's office, on the pretext of endangering national security and public order.
