10/10/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 10 October, MEPs deplored the 20-month prison sentence handed down to Bülent Mumay, a Turkish journalist and coordinator of the Istanbul bureau of Deutsche Welle’s Turkish editorial team. This conviction “follows a broader pattern of silencing critical journalism”, according to the European Parliament, in a joint resolution (https://aeur.eu/f/dtw ) calling on the Turkish authorities to drop the charges against Mr Mumay and all media professionals and journalists arbitrarily detained. MEPs are also deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of democratic standards in Turkey, the “relentless” repression of all critical voices and the targeting of independent journalists, activists and members of the opposition. They are calling on the authorities to restore the independence of the judiciary, respect press freedom and comply with international human rights obligations. (CG)