MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

B10‑0097/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

(2024/2856(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Türkiye’s international legal obligations and to its own domestic constitutional and legal stipulations to uphold the rule of law, respect for due process protect human rights;

– having regard to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure;

A. whereas the 20 month prison sentence against journalist Bülent Mumay was upheld in an appeal court on 20th August;

B. whereas the charges against Mumay focus on his alleged “illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data”,  and constitutes an attempt to suppress press freedom and freedom of expression in Türkiye;

C. whereas on May 20, 2024, Turkish court further censored Mumay with the removal of his tweets and blocking access to news reports;

D. whereas the process against Mumay is in line with the broader effort of the Turkish government’s to intimidate independent journalists through legal threats, censorship, and financial pressure, including those residing abroad, thereby undermining democratic discourse and accountability in the country; whereas the Turkish government has closed dozens of media outlets, routinely blocks online articles, is reported to control 85% of national media; whereas it passed a so-called "disinformation law" in 2022 and is reportedly planning to introduce a "foreign agent law" by the end of 2024, further undermining the freedom of press;

E. whereas Türkiye as a long-standing member of the Council of Europe is expected to apply to the highest democratic standards and practices, including the press freedom and freedom of expression;

1. condemns the prison sentence of Bülent Mumay not only as a serious infringement of his personal rights but also on the wider respect for press freedom and freedom of speech in Türkiye and urges the Turkish authorities to review his case and uphold the respect for human rights, the rule of law including the fundamental freedoms and the freedom of speech;

2. calls on the Turkish government to end the systematic targeting of journalists and reiterates its profound concern at the on-going deterioration in press freedom in Türkiye as per the official records of independent organisations dedicated to protect journalists such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); condemns the use of arbitrary detention, judicial and administrative harassment, censorship, and financial coercion as the means of curbing investigative journalism;

3. express full solidarity with Bülent Mumay and the other journalists, who also have been prosecuted, jailed or faced other forms of intimidation; urges Türkiye to stop deporting exiled Syrian journalists to their country of origin where they face grave danger;

4. points out that this decision  reconfirms the authoritarian character of the current political leadership in Türkiye, which imposes a violent crackdown of political opponents, fundamental rights activists and minorities and shows the lack of willingness of the government to make real reforms in the field of fundamental rights and rule of law;

5. instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, HRVP, and the President, Government and Parliament of Turkey and asks for this resolution to be translated into Turkish language.