'Protecting the press is protecting you'

11:31

Öykü Dilara Keskin/JINHA

ISTANBUL -Hayatın Sesi TV (Voice of life Channel) which started its broadcasts to become the voice of the oppressed, has been published for its broadcasts. The Culture and Arts Programmer of Hayatın Sesi TV, Ayşen Güven, appealed to citizens and the press organizations by saying, "Protecting the press is protecting you. We should protect Özgür Gündem daily, too. Protect the free press before we loss it."

The pressure against the free press that is targeted by the government has continued. Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporters, who worked in self-government areas, have been jailed while many journalists have been detained. Lastly, TİHV President Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, writer Ahmet Nesin, and the Reporter without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu have been jailed for taking part in the editor-in-chief campaign in solidarity with Özgür Gündem daily. Now the Hayatın Sesi TV is in danger of being closed.

There are four files against the TV in The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK). Administrative fines have been imposed on the TV for various reasons. The Culture and Arts Programmer of Hayatın Sesi TV, Ayşen Güven, remarked that the pressure is imposed on all free press and she emphasized that the solidarity should be raised.

Ayşen stated that the Hayatın Sesi Tv will turn 10 next year; however, they faced to be closed the year they began their broadcasts. Ayşen said, "That decision hadn't been reported us and the decision was unlawful. The second decided to cease broadcasting was during Gezi Park protests. The people reacted to the decision and the reaction of people prevented the decision." Ayşen stated that the television broadcast line is against the hate speech and it has women's language and it gives coverage to the workers and laborers news. "That's why we are under pressure. Our aim is to reflect the truth. We insisted on show the resistance and we will continue to insist.

"The costs of making broadcast from Kurdistan, giving the voice of the oppositions and the uprising of the high schools have become heavier." said Ayşen and she stated that there are four files against them and they only can reach one of these files. Ayşen said, "This file has been opened for a speech of an uncle who lost his nephew in Ankara blast."

Ayşen stated that they think the other files have been opened for their broadcasts about Sur and Cizre. Ayşen said, "We showed the war policies of the state. We handed our microphone to the people and we showed how their cities were demolished and the people were killed. We didn't manipulate anything. However, twe blacken the state when we show the truth.

"There are attacks on the press now. We should protect our life by protecting the press. Protecting the press means protecting you. The people and intellectuals should be sensitive to the pressure on the press. We call for solidarity with the free press. Protect the free press before we loss it."

(ödk/ck/sy/gd)