134 Canadian deputies slam 'Islamist' Turkey's press suppression. (Bugun).
The Canadian Parliament has sent a letter to Canadian Foreign Minister Nicholson expressing its deep concern regarding the rise of attacks against press freedoms in Turkey. Signed by two state ministers and 134 parliamentarians, the letter demanded more pressure be applied on Ankara.
Two state ministers and 134 deputies in the 413-deputy Canadian Parliament sent a letter to Foreign Minister Rob Nicholson. The lawmakers express their deep concern over the rise of press suppression in Turkey and call on the minister to take all possible steps to put pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish Foreign Ministry to “find a peaceful, democratic and permanent solution to end this dangerous situation in the country.”
Support for the letter came from all of Canada’s political parties, including Conservatives, Liberals, New Democrats and Greens.
The letter referred not only to the Dec. 14, 2014 media crackdown -- where Editor-in-Chief of Zaman daily Ekrem Dumanlı and CEO of Samanyolu Media Group Hidayet Karaca as well as 27 other press and media personalities were arrested on questionable charges -- but also the ongoing imprisonment without trial of investigative journalist Mehmet Baransu.
Referring to the Dec. 14 crackdown, “Since that day, journalists critical of the government are increasingly harassed and intimidated. These developments are a direct violation of free speech and free press and threaten the principles of democracy Turkey adheres to. Turkey’s good people hope to freely exchange ideas without fear of oppression.”
Both the US Senate and House of Representatives sent similar letters to Secretary of State John Kerry earlier on in the year, calling on him to apply pressure on Erdoğan in defense of press freedoms.
Hmmm....Once again Canada proves they are the real champions of freedom, unlike Erdogan's BFF Obama.
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