KESK Executive Board's Strong Reaction to the Appointment of Trustee to Tele1: "Open Attack on Freedom of Thought and Press!"

ANKARA - The Executive Board of the Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (KESK) has condemned the decision to appoint a trustee to Tele1 television channel, one of the most important media outlets of the social opposition, in a strong statement. KESK stated that this intervention is not only against a broadcasting organization, but also a clear attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Turkey.

KESK emphasized in a statement that the basic principles of democracy are being trampled on:

"The indispensable condition of democracy is pluralism, the free expression of different opinions and the guarantee of the independence of the press. Today's intervention in Tele1 is a violation of these principles."

Pointing to a period in which opposing voices are being silenced, KESK stated that such antidemocratic practices hinder the public's right to access accurate information and threaten the free shaping of democratic public opinion.

"We will continue our solidarity"

KESK Executive Committee emphasized that they will continue to defend the public's right to accurate information and called on all segments of society:

"We will continue to defend the public's right to accurate information and the free formation of democratic public opinion. We reject these undemocratic practices, call on all segments of society to defend press freedom and democracy, and will continue to stand in solidarity with Tele1 workers."

With this decision, KESK sent the message that the social opposition must unite against the government's efforts to make the media monolithic.