In Turkey, media close to the opposition must reckon with the negative consequences of their election reporting. The broadcasting authority initiated investigations against seven broadcasters – the accusation: “humiliating statements” about the Turkish people.
After the elections in Turkey, opposition stations there are threatened with negative consequences because of their reporting. After the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the national broadcasting authority announced that investigations had been launched against a total of seven broadcasters.
They spread “humiliating statements” about the Turkish people on the night of the election, the statement said. The broadcasting authority is considered to be close to the government.
It is not clear whether the allegations relate to the presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14 or to the runoff election last Sunday. Statements by a journalist were quoted as an example: ballot boxes do not make democracy.
165th out of 180 for freedom of the press
The Turkish government directly or indirectly controls much of the media landscape. Observers see the limited freedom of the press as one reason for Erdogan’s electoral success.
According to a classification by the organization Reporters Without Borders, Turkey is ranked 165th out of 180 in terms of press freedom. Germany is ranked 21st.
Erdogan, 69, defeated opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in a runoff election on Sunday – albeit by a narrow margin. The Islamic conservative incumbent was re-elected for another five years.