DİYARBAKIR – Journalists in Turkey welcome the Worker Journalists’ Day on January 10. Free Journalists Initiative spokesperson Hakkı Boltan said all journalists whose rights seized should gathered and convert the struggle day.

January 10 celebration of Worker Journalists’ Day is particular day of Turkey. “Article 212” which allows social and legal rights for press workers was gazetted on January 10 of 1971. But after 1971 military coup most of press rights had been seized and journalists began to celebrate the January 10 as Workers Journalists’ Day.

Despite to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “ Neither Europe nor other countries has press right as much as Turkey has” , press freedom virtually was demolished in 2016 of Turkey.

358 journalists had detained and 109 of them had jailed on claim of doing news in 2016. Decelerating of State of Emergency after the July 15 coup attempt , pressure and blocks on free press increased. 49 journalists’ passports were suspended and 780 journalists’ press cards were canceled during the state of emergence.

Free Journalists Inıtiative spokesperson Hakkı Boltan said legal rights given to journalists were seized again like after 1971 military coup. Boltan “assaulting is continuing on journalists in Turkey and we resisting against it to stand together” said Boltan.

“ It is important that all journalists whose rights were seized, should gathered and struggle for take it back. This is the only way to get our rights back. For the very reason January 10 should be converted to struggle day” said Boltan.