COE: "Freedom of expression is vital for Turkish democracy"

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg this week welcomed recent changes to the Turkish Constitution, saying they are likely to boost freedom of expression and media freedom. But in a new CoE report, he also underlined that the letter and spirit of the present Constitution continue to hinder pluralism and freedom of expression from being fully respected. To overcome these obstacles, Hammarberg urged Turkish authorities to ensure that planned constitutional reforms are carried out in close consultation with all political parties and civil society. The Internet Act and the Radio and Television Act also urgently need review, said the commissioner, stressing that systematic Internet censorship and the blocking of websites go beyond what is necessary in a democratic society. Citing the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink, Hammarberg also urged authorities to step up their efforts to protect journalists from violence and intimidation. He also recommended addressing the precarious working conditions of many journalists, in particular investigative reporters, and halting systematic violations of the labor rights of media professionals. Comments by Turkish officials were appended to the commissioner's report.