Türkiye: IFJ press card fee misrepresented as criminal evidence

Four journalists from Etkin Haber Ajansı (ETHA) have been placed in pre-trial detention following a large-scale police operation across Türkiye, with investigators reportedly questioning a routine International Press Card (IPC) payment made through the Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS), an International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)' affiliate. The IFJ fully condemns the attempt to cast a routine professional accreditation fee as suspicious and stands in solidarity with the detained journalists.

Credit: IFJ.

On 3 February, police carried out coordinated raidsin 22 cities as part of an investigation targeting the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP)on allegations of "membership in an organisation" and "propaganda for an organisation." Among those arrested were the leftist Etkin News Agency (ETHA) journalists Pınar Gayıp, Nadiye Gürbüz, Elif Bayburt and Müslüm Koyun.

According to the independent online media outlet Bianet, information contained in police documentation, a transfer of 7 EUR made on 6 August 2021 by Nadiye Gürbüz to the TGS, described as "Pınar Gayıp IFJ card fee," was included in the investigation file. Despite the explicit reference to the IFJ card application, the transaction was reportedly listed under a heading referring to "money transfers to individuals facing charges of terrorism," and Gürbüz was questioned about why the payment had been made and on whose instruction.

The International Press Card(IPC), introduced in 1927, is the world's most recognised accreditation of journalists. The IFJ issues the press cards on the request of its affiliates, including TGS in Türkiye,for a fee that covers production and administrative costs. In turn, affiliates collect this fee from applicants. These modest payments allow the IPC system to function

TGS President Gökhan Durmuş stated:"Due to the problems facing journalists in Turkey in obtaining press cards, there is considerable demand for the IFJ cards. This card facilitates their work while covering news in Turkey and enables journalists to do their jobs easily in many countries around the world, particularly in European countries. Anyone carrying an IFJ card is a journalist. Any attempt to fabricate a crime here is futile."

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Criminalising a routine International Press Card fee is a dangerous distortion of reality. The IPC is a legitimate professional tool issued transparently through our affiliates. Attempts to frame ordinary union transactions as criminal acts are unacceptable. We call on the authorities to cease targeting journalists for their professional activities and to respect press freedom and due process."