Statement by National Press Club on Reported Turkish Government Censorship of Photos/Video

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May 29, 2015, 03:05 ET

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by John Hughes, president of the National Press Club on reports of government censorship related to photos and video in the Turkish paper Cumhuriyet Daily.

"We have today received reports that the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet Daily has been banned from publishing videos and photographs related to the transport of weapons from Turkey across the Syrian border and possibly headed to ISIS. Further, we have heard that Turkish prosecutors have launched a terrorism investigation related to Cumhuriyet and an additional investigation of Can Dundar, the editor of Cumhuriyet.

"These are disturbing allegations. Turkey has a very bad record of aggressive action against the free press. We look for more clarity on these stories coming out of Turkey. We call on the government of Turkey to allow the distinguished papers there to continue to publish materials that seem to be highly newsworthy and of service to their readers. If there are trucks loaded with weapons for ISIS crossing the border from Turkey into Syria and if there are photos and videos that show this they should be published so that these facts can be widely known and the border may be made secure. Censoring the material and taking action against the paper and its editor for publishing it, if true, is not the best approach for a free and democratic society."

Founded in 1908 the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists with more than 3,100 members worldwide. Among the Club's members are representatives of nearly every leading news organization.

Contact: John Donnelly, 202-746-6020 for the National Press Club

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SOURCE National Press Club