LEGAL TIPS FOR FREELANCE JOURNALISTS IN TURKEY
For Bianet’s media watching report, at 2021, 35 journalists sentenced for totally 92 years in prison and at least as 41 journalists arrested by police, in Turkey. And in last 5 years 270 journalist arrested, specially when they working on public events.
The journalists who following news at streets, face to face with threat of arresting. Specially freelance journalists, who works without connected a corporation and without press card, frequently arrests when they are following news.
When a journalist arrests who is a foreigner and not a citizen of Turkish Republic, implements “Foreigners Law” and “Foreigners and International Protection Law” procedures. But they are facing with some difficulties because of doesn’t know legal processes. Also the officers who arrested them, doesn’t know the foreigners’ laws and rights.
When a foreigner journalist arrested in Turkey, must have legal aid from an attorney at law or a civil society organisation, as like as MLSA (Media and Law Studies Association).
(Thanks to Meltem Suat, who writed the original and richest content for both Turkish and foreigner journalists. You can read it here -in Turkish- My blogpost is only a simply translate and a summary for foreigners.)
