Turkish journalists vow a fight to repeal “censorship” law

The Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) declared a fight against the new censorship law approved by the parliament on Friday, saying that they will put utmost effort in order to repeal the legislation.

“We are not going to be silent. We will not bow to censorship. We will continue to write, speak and convey the truth to the society” TGS said.

Slamming the government who introduced the legislation to the parliament of turning deaf to the objections of all professional media organization, TGS said the freedom of expression in Turkey was destroyed by the approval of the bill.

Turkish parliament on early Friday adopted a new media law that criminalises the spread of “fake” news online, amid heavy criticism for creating a censorship mechanism over dissident.

The controversial bill proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its far-right ally, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), containing of 40 articles, approved with the majority of votes, despite opposition parties’ disapproval.

The legislation introduces prison sentences up to three years for “publicly disseminated false information.”