Journalists in the north have criticised the 'government' for excluding media organisations from a parliamentary committee discussion on press freedom.
In a statement, the Press Workers’ Union (Basın‑Sen) said freedom of the press cannot be discussed without the participation of those working in the profession, referring to their absence from a committee session on proposed amendments to criminal procedure 'legislation.'
According to reports, the provision had been referred back for reconsideration by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. The issue is set to be discussed again on 20 May, but representatives of the press have not been invited.
The union described the exclusion as unacceptable, noting that the proposal directly affects journalism and media freedom, while introducing potential 'criminal penalties' for journalists and threatening the public’s right to information.
Basın‑Sen also accused the 'government' and the committee of ignoring reactions and opting for imposition instead of dialogue, calling the exclusion of press organisations a “political choice.”
It stressed that “regulating potential breaches of ethical principles through the threat of imprisonment is not consistent with the concept of a democratic state governed by the rule of law.”
The union concluded by calling for a review of the 'legislation' with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, including journalist associations, legal experts and human rights organisations.
Source: CNA
