Ali Cimen |
Turkish journalist charged over criticizing state news agency chief |
October 22, 2014, Wednesday/ 19:35:46/ TODAYSZAMAN.COM / ISTANBUL |
http://www.todayszaman.com/latest-news_turkish-journalist-charged-over-criticizing-state-news-agency-chief_362390.html |
Prominent Turkish journalist and author of several best-selling books was charged over several tweets that criticized the chief of state news agency for being the government's mouthpiece. Ali Cimen said on his Twitter feed on Wednesday that chief of state news agency Anadolu, Kemal ?zt?rk, pressed charges against him for allegedly "insulting a public official" in his tweets. He will face prosecution over tweets that criticized the ?zt?rk's interview with Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, who was under fire due to a coal mine disaster in Soma in May that killed 301 workers. ?imen slammed the head of the Anadolu news agency for polishing the image of the minister. "The [Anadolu] news agency which is required to stay neutral is teaching a morality lesson to the nation while publishing a story with a 'Firm Minister' headline," ?imen said in his tweet. The Anadolu Agency was referring to Yildiz with the description "Firm Minister," who frequently updated the media with the death toll in the country's worst industrial disaster for days and who was at the center of calls for resignation. He was accused of failing to make sure that coal mine companies live up to their commitment in providing necessary work safety standards. The criminal complaint also included a tweet posted by ?imen that hails a BBC story on the Soma mine disaster. The journalist, drawing a comparison, said other news outlets, referring to the BBC, don't publish stories that is tantamount to "flattering a minister" by spending taxpayers' money. Turkey was ranked as "not free" in Freedom House's latest "media freedom" index and international press advocacy bodies are increasingly critical of the authorities' treatment of journalists. |