Turkey must drop charges against Pelin Ünker

David Casa will be travelling to Istanbul next week to meet with investigative journalist Pelin Ünker, her legal team, NGOs and press organisations.

Partit Nazzjonalista’s Head of Delegation David Casa stated: “The case of Pelin Ünker, a journalist who was recently sentenced to 13 months imprisonment, because of her factual reporting on the relatives of politicians, is a clear example of the state of media freedom in Turkey, and must be addressed. It is of great concern that she is also facing a second case on similar facts instituted by Turkey's Finance Minister and son-in-law of President Erdogan.

Pelin Ünker’s case has global significance because she reported facts that the complainants acknowledge to be true concerning their businesses in Malta. The sentence received international condemnation as it is the first time that a journalist has been sentenced to prison for reporting facts that are not disputed. It is also the first conviction of a journalist for reporting on the Paradise Papers. The conviction, if upheld, will have a profoundly chilling effect on what little is left of press freedom in Turkey."

David Casa has campaigned for greater protection for journalists across the European Union and has monitored the situation in Turkey very closely over the last 15 years as part of his role on the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee.

“Pelin Ünker is a young mother that will be separated from her 2 year old son should this cruel sentence be enforced. These are not the actions of a country that aspires to eventually form part of the European Union. Sadly, it is clear that Turkey is further away from EU accession today than when it applied for membership so many years ago. Without substantial changes to the laws that regulate the press and how they are enforced we will need to reassess whether there is any point in continuing to pursue the road to EU accession. My message to the Turkish authorities is clear - drop the charges against Pelin Ünker and reform the draconian press laws under which a third of the world’s journalists remain behind bars. Without a free press, democracy cannot function.”