Interference faced by members of the press while performing their professional duties constitutes not only an individual violation of rights, but also a serious obstruction to the public’s right to access accurate and impartial information.
The detention of CNN Türk reporter Emrah Çakmak and cameraman Halil Kahraman in Tel Aviv, where they were present in the course of their professional duties, has caused deep concern and sorrow within the media community.
Journalists, wherever they may be in the world, undertake the responsibility of informing the public. Ensuring the safety of media professionals during news coverage is of paramount importance under international principles of press freedom and universal legal norms.
As the Istanbul Journalists Federation, we consider such practices directed at journalists carrying out their profession to be incompatible with the fundamental understanding of press freedom. We express our sincere hope that our colleagues Emrah Çakmak and Halil Kahraman will be released at the earliest opportunity.
The ability of journalists to perform their duties freely, safely, and independently is an indispensable element of a democratic society. We respectfully remind all parties of the necessity to demonstrate sensitivity toward the working rights of members of the press within the framework of international law.
Respectfully submitted to the public.
Adil Koçalan
President
Istanbul Journalists Federation
