Reactions to Journalist Serhat İncirli Incident from Political and Civil Groups
Journalist’s Expulsion from Presidential Building Sparks Outrage
The recent expulsion of journalist Serhat İncirli from a meeting with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has sparked outrage from political parties, non-governmental organizations, and media organizations in Cyprus.
The main opposition Republican Turkish Party issued a statement condemning the expulsion of İncirli from the Presidential building. They argued that this was a violation of ethical values and democracy, and called for an end to such practices.
Similarly, the CTP voiced their support for İncirli and a free press, while the Press Workers’ Union Basın-Sen criticized the decision to deny some journalists access to the Tatar-Erdoğan meeting, despite meeting the requirements set by the Presidency in advance.
The Cyprus Turkish Journalists Union also condemned the move to ask İncirli to leave after being allowed to follow the Tatar-Erdoğan meeting. In their statement, the KTGB described this as an unethical act that violates individual rights and freedoms.
The incident has raised concerns over press freedom in Cyprus, with journalists and media organizations calling for greater transparency and respect for the important role played by the media in any functioning democracy.
