Annual US human rights report criticizes pressure on the press

In its annual Human Rights Report released yesterday, the US State Department had some critical remarks on press freedom in Turkey. "The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens (in 2008); however, serious problems remained in some areas," said the report. "The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press; however, the government continued to limit these freedoms in occasional cases. Some senior government officials made statements during the year strongly criticizing the press … Prosecutors harassed writers, journalists, and political figures by bringing dozens of cases to court each year under various laws that restricted media freedom; however, judges dismissed many of these charges … Some members of the AK Party (ruling Justice and Development) party and Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan continued to file suits against journalists and cartoonists during the year … Several large holding companies which owned news agencies in the country were concerned over losing business opportunities if their journalists wrote articles critical of the government … Senior government officials, including Prime Minister Erdogan, made statements during the year strongly criticizing the press and media business figures, particularly following the publishing of reports on alleged corruption in entities in Germany connected to the ruling party." Also touching on the ongoing Ergenekon probe, the report said, "On July 14, prosecutors in Istanbul indicted 90 persons, including prominent military, business, and press corps personalities, on charges of plotting to foment unrest and topple the elected government as members of an organization labeled the 'Ergenekon Network.' … Several individuals were held without charge for approximately a month prior to the July 14 indictment."