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World Editors Urge Erdogan to Protect Media Rights


Turkey -- A police officer arrests and grabs the throat of an employee of Bugun newspaper and Kanalturk TV during a protest in Istanbul against the government's crackdown on media. Oct. 28, 2015.

In advance of this weekend's elections in Turkey, a coalition of media groups has called attention to attacks against the country's independent and critical opposition press.

Journalists in Turkey have been imprisoned, media companies attacked, and incendiary comments against the role of a free media regularly heard in recent months.

In a public letter issued to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, more than 50 international editors in partnership with English PEN raised concerns about a "climate of intimidation" and "a culture of impunity which serves to deprive journalists of the necessary safeguards to do their essential work."

The letter expresses solidarity with Turkish colleagues, and urges the President to use his influence to protect journalists and foster a culture where press freedom is respected.

A full text of the letter is here.

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