'No Censorship, Freedom to News' march was held in Eskişehir: 'We will not remain silent against this order'

Those who gathered behind the "No Censorship, Freedom to News" banner marched from Köprübaşı to Hamamyolu Yediler Park at the event held in Eskişehir with the joint call of professional press organizations against the detentions and arrests of journalists, the appointment of trustees to media organizations, and the access restrictions imposed on news sites and social media accounts.

NEW Party Eskişehir Deputy İbrahim Arslan and Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt also supported the march.

CGD Eskişehir Branch Board Member Eylem Lodos, who read the press text on behalf of the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) and Eskişehir Journalists' Society (EGC) Eskişehir branches, said:

"We will not remain silent against this order in which journalism is considered a crime, news is considered a threat, the truth is considered objectionable, and not only journalists but also everyone who objects is subjected to censorship, pressure and punishment. Freedom of the press cannot be talked about in a country where trustees are appointed to television channels, access to news sites is blocked, journalists are arrested, social media accounts are closed, journalists are forced to work in a slave system and their social rights are scythed."

Democracy cannot be talked about in a country where journalists are arrested, social media accounts are closed, and journalists struggle with hunger because of the news they make or do not make. Journalism is on the side of the people. While workers' rights are usurped, workers' resistance is suppressed, women are subjected to violence, young people are condemned to a futureless situation, poverty grows and public resources are transferred to capital, it is the public responsibility of journalism to make these visible. The journalist has a duty to reveal what the public needs to know; It is not about hiding that the government does not want it to be known.

The understanding that presents the interests of the government or political power as the interests of the people, puts the economic power of the bosses before the truth, and considers being close to the political power as a guarantee of professional security is not journalism, but the reproduction of power relations. Those who rely on the political principles of the day instead of universal principles should know that the political 'principles' of that day will surely disappear one day. As Press Professional Organizations and journalists, our only demand is to do our profession freely. We don't want to be alone on this path. We call on all our colleagues to join this struggle. It should be emphasized once again that freedom of the press is a problem not only for journalists but for all segments of society. If the press is not free, society cannot access the news.”