Solidarity ad in Turkish media

We want to fund ads in independent Turkish media outlets that will be published before the constitutional referendum on April 16, 2017. We are planning to publish ads in these newspaper and online publications: Agos, BirGun, Cumhuriyet, Evrensel and Turuncutime. This is the text that will appear in these media outlets, translated into Turkish:

Let’s unite for freedom and democracy

We observe with great concern that the Turkish government distances itself ever further from the fundamental values of free society. The separation of powers, equal opportunities for all political parties and, last but not least, every citizen’s right to express and disseminate his or her opinion freely are requirements for the success of free and democratic society. We know that many of you stand for these values.

We see that many of you live through hard times. As authors, publishers, journalists, booksellers, artists, lawyers, judges, academics and civilians, you are confronted with incredible accusations, repressions and acts of violence that defy the rule of law. With this ad, we would like to express our solidarity with you. We are thinking of you and hope that Turkey remains a part of our common community of values.

Your fellow European citizens

#FreeWordsTurkey

Börsenverein, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association

With the constitutional referendum looming, we want to express our solidarity with the culutural sector and civil society in Turkey. Furthermore, we want to support the work of the remaining independent Turkish media outlets. Many of them suffer from dwindling ad revenue, on which they existentially depend. The country is in danger of losing even more important free voices.

Freedom of expression lies at the basis of any free and democratic society. This human right is in great danger in Turkey at the moment. Independent media are essential for guaranteeing this freedom. Your donation would be a sign of solidarity towards all those who are persecuted in Turkey for making use of their right to express and disseminate their opinions freely. With your contribution, you would furthermore support free and independent media in Turkey.

We will make use of the money to buy solidarity ads in various independent Turkish newspapers and online publications. If we reach the funding target, we will be able to buy ads in 6 newspapers and websites. In the case that we collect more money than is necessary for buying the ads, we will use the remaining money to fund further actions for the promotion of freedom of expression.