İZMİR - Condemning the pressure on journalists that was blocked with the state of emergency declared in the cities affected by the earthquake, IGC President Dilek Gappi said: "The first duty of the press is to point out what is wrong on behalf of the public and to reflect the situation and expectations of the people in an objective way."

 

Earthquakes, the epicenters of which were Maraş and Gaziantep, caused great destruction in Diyarbakır, Urfa, Malatya, Osmaniye, Mardin, Adana, Hatay and Adıyaman. Seconds became important for the citizens who were under the rubble in the earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude. As the earthquake enters its 4th day, there are still many inaccessible debris fields. On the second day of the earthquake, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was in front of the screen, declared a State of Emergency (OHAL) that will last for 3 months in 10 cities affected by the earthquake.

 

The State of Emergency decision published in the Official Gazette will be discussed in the Parliament today.

 

AFTER THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY

 

After the state of emergency, the first intervention was directed at journalists. The police, who blocked the journalists who followed the rubbles in Diyarbakır and reported the situation of the citizens, on the grounds that "they do not have a turquoise card", also threatened to detain the citizens who expressed their problems.

 

'THE PRESS SHOULD BE FREE AT THIS PROCESS'

 

Stating that Turkey is going through difficult times, Gappi said: "The press should be free especially in this process. The first duty of the press is to point out what is wrong on behalf of the public, to reflect the situation and expectations of the people in an objective way. Unfortunately, while we are still getting through the pain of the process, we started to feel different problems. In such a situation, the press has begun to prevent it.”

 

'PRESS IS THE FIRST POWER AREA'

 

He said that the only wish of the press workers was to report freely. Gappi said: “Terms of strict management prevent this situation. Our colleagues have already begun to be detained. Or self-control is applied. We saw in a live broadcast that the reporter had to say, 'Oh, we should not report this, there will be trouble'. While Turkey is going through these painful processes, the press is our first priority. We cannot compromise on that. We have to reflect the reality of the people. I call out to the authorities; It is not your responsibility to hinder the press or our colleagues. It's about solving problems. Many lives were lost during the earthquake because it was not intervened in time. The first task of the press is to reflect them. During the times of martial law, the press was prevented from doing their job. This habit needs to end. Freedom of the press is as necessary as food and water in these regions.”

 

'STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS INCREASED THE PRESSURE'

 

Underlining that the pressures and obstructions against the press continued during the state of emergency, Gappi said: "There is a situation that tries to give advice to everyone in the current situation. Even the smallest bureaucrat sees himself as a power over the press. You can't pull it, you can't do that. Journalism is very clear and precise. The purpose of our profession is to show the truth of the people. We cannot compromise on this. This is our job. We need to increase solidarity. Everyone needs to know that we will continue to report the truth to the public during this process.”