OSCE Representative denounces prison sentences for owners and general director of Hayatın Sesi TV in Turkey

VIENNA, 20 September 2018 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today denounced prison sentences handed out to the executives of the Hayatın Sesi TV channel in Turkey.

Istanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court yesterday sentenced the owners of the Hayatın Sesi TV channel, Mustafa Kara and İsmail Gökhan Bayram, and the channel’s general director, Gökhan Çetin, to three years and nine months in prison each. They were convicted of spreading terrorist propaganda for different terrorist groups in Turkey, reportedly related to several broadcasts by the channel in 2015 and 2016 on bombing attacks and military operations in the country’s south-east.

“Journalists must not be imprisoned for their work, even for reporting on conflict or expressing dissenting views. Far too many journalists in Turkey have been accused of spreading terrorist propaganda based on their reporting about issues of public interest,” Désir said.

Hayatın Sesi TV, together with several other TV channels, was closed down by a government decree in September 2016.

“I hope that they will be freed on appeal and I stand ready to assist Turkey in addressing all media freedom-related issues and restoring the previously very vibrant media landscape in the country,” Désir said.

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.