More than 400 employees of the opposition Turkish media was left without a job. About it RIA Novosti on Friday, April 29, said the former correspondent of the newspaper Zaman.
According to the journalist, his colleagues got fired, which did not entail compensation. “The office of the newspaper Zaman in Ankara closed today, all employees fired. Just from Zaman and Cihan laid off more than 400 people including foreign correspondents. And I and my colleagues got fired, which does not involve any compensation payments with the words “malpractice” and “damage the image of organization”, — said the journalist.
Employee Cihan confirmed that the majority of the journalists of this organization were also fired on Friday. “In the Agency’s office in Ankara from 25 journalists were dismissed today 17. If it is not closed fully, then at least staffed with workers from Pro-government media — some of them have already received invitations to work for us”, — said the Agency interlocutor.
Thursday, April 28, in Turkey a two-year prison sentenced columnist of the newspaper Cumhuriyet (“Republic”) Hikmet Cetinkaya and Gadi Karan, who reprinted cartoons of the prophet Mohammed from the French weekly Charlie Hebdo. Journalists put images in your materials after the attack on the edition of Charlie Hebdo that took place in January 2015, in solidarity. The publication caused a public outcry. The Prosecutor’s office accused the journalists of insulting religious values and demanded to deprive of their liberty for 4.5 years.
Cumhuriyet — opposition newspaper, its journalists are in constant conflict with the Turkish authorities. In November 2015 for the article on the smuggling of Turkish weapons to Syrian rebels were arrested the chief editor and newspaper journalist can Dundar and Erdem Gul. Journalists charged with aiding and abetting armed terrorist groups and espionage.
