FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA IN TURKEY

Early day motion 474, tabled 15 September 2016 by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party). Signed by 33 members.

That this House is gravely concerned over reports of increasingly repressive treatment of journalists working for newspapers, websites and broadcasters in Turkey; notes that a recently published decree ordered the closure of 131 media organisations, including three news agencies, 16 television channels, 23 radio stations, 45 daily newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishing houses; further notes that, under the country's state of emergency, the authorities can hold suspects in detention without charge for 30 days, with journalists frequently detained without arrest warrants; and calls on the Government and the Council of Europe's Platform for the Protection of Journalists to raise these violations of press freedoms with the Turkish authorities.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 18, Labour 5, Independent 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Green 1, Liberal Democrat 1.