MEDIA FREEDOM IN TURKEY

Early day motion 724, tabled 13 November 2012 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House condemns the continued imprisonment of approximately 76 journalists in Turkey, the highest number in the world, on what appear to be politically motivated terror charges; expresses alarm over the arbitrary nature of these prosecutions and the lack of due process or fair treatment in the courts received by these journalists; holds deep concerns that a number of journalists in prison are on indefinite hunger strike; expresses apprehension over the deterioration in media freedom in Turkey, in particular the Kurdish media and those who are critical of government policy; and echoes the call of the European Federation of Journalists that Turkey should make urgent reforms to protect press freedom and drop charges against journalists being prosecuted under anti-terror and anti-state laws.

Signatures by party: Labour 16, Liberal Democrat 3, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Alliance 1, DUP 1, Independent 1, Respect 1.