OSCE representative Désir urges to reverse conviction of Turkish journalists after Strasbourg court acknowledges their rights have been violated

VIENNA, 20 March 2018 -  “The decision of the European Court of Human Rights shows clearly that the rights to liberty and security, as well as to freedom of expression of two Turkish journalists, Şahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan, have been violated,” the OSCE media freedom representative Harlem Désir said in a reaction on the Strasbourg court judgment.

On 20 March, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that the pre-trial detentions of the two journalists had violated their rights protected under Articles 5(1) and 10 of the Convention. A few days earlier, on 17 March, Şahin Alpay was released pending trial and placed under house arrest, following a second related ruling of the Constitutional Court of Turkey. On 16 February, Mehmet Altan was sentenced to aggravated life term in prison, following charges of his links to the Gülen Organization.

“The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights highlights the need for Turkey to revisit the court decisions made in the cases of journalists Şahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan,” Désir said. „I urge Turkey to reverse the decisions that criminalize journalism, release the other remaining imprisoned journalists and dismiss charges against them. I also urge the authorities to engage in reforming the laws affecting media freedom in the country, and I offer the assistance of my Office in this process.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.