Turkish Reforms Can Set Example for Muslim World

Seok Hyun Hong, President, World Association of Newspapers

Turkish law reforms regarding human rights and press freedom could positively influence the majority of Muslim nations where freedom of expression is outlawed, says Dr Hong.

"It is right to underline the potential role that modern Turkey can play on the world stage in demonstrating that a major Muslim country can promote and enjoy tolerance, democracy and full human rights, including the vital right of every citizen to receive free information and express himself freely," he said at the opening ceremony of the Congress and Forum.

"These rights and other basic democratic values are outlawed or severely restricted in the great majority of countries with predominantly Muslim populations, and positive examples are in great need, particularly in this region, where Turkey can exert additional influence," he said.

Turkey has undertaken a series of reforms in recent years, as it strives to join the European Union, and has abolished or modified many laws that restricted freedom of expression and were used to prosecute and imprison journalists and human rights activists. While limitations of free expression still exist, and harassment and prosecution of human rights activists still occur, the country has made great strides, said Dr Hong.

Read the full speech here.

"I Always Serve The Truth,"

Presentation of the Golden Pen of Freedom to Ruslan Sharipov of Uzbekistan

WAN today awarded its annual press freedom prize, the 2004 Golden Pen of Freedom, to journalist Ruslan Sharipov of Uzbekistan for his courageous human rights and freedom of expression initiatives in the face of attacks, torture and constant harassment.

Mr Sharipov, who is under house arrest in Uzbekistan, sent a message to the awards ceremony which said: "I love journalism. I always serve the truth and I want freedom of speech to be celebrated around the world. I will do my best to be worthy of your great trust."

The statement was read by human rights activist Elena Urlaeva, who accepted the award on his behalf. She said Mr Sharipov did not send a longer statement because Uzbek authorities threatened reprisals if he did so.

Mr Sharipov served 10 months in prison and is now under house arrest "on trumped up charges intended to punish and silence him," said Gloria Brown Anderson, President of the World Editors Forum, who presented the award.

Mr Sharipov, 25, was sentenced to four years in prison in August 2003 for "engaging in homosexual acts" -- a pretext to silence him and stop his human rights work.

He is the founder of the Union of Independent Journalists of Uzbekistan and a correspondent for the Moscow Human Rights Agency. Before his imprisonment, he reported regularly on the state of the media and press freedom in Uzbekistan, and about human rights violations in the country.

Read the presentation speech here.

A tower of tolerance

Aydin Dogan, President, Turkish Newspaper Publishers Association

Publishers and editors around the world must unite to build “a tower of tolerance” to bring global peace and understanding, says Aydin Dogan.

People should look for an example to Istanbul where a mosque, a church and a synagogue can exist side by side in peace.

The press can play an important role in bringing that peace, he says.

“Out of different cultures and languages the press should be able to understand each other - and speak a common language.

Mr Dogan believes the current situation in Iraq is full of historical lessons about democracy and a free press.

The fact that photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused by their American guards in Abu Ghreib jail were published is a sign of democracy.

“It is a good example of democratic behaviour ,” he says of the way the photographs were published first in U.S. newspapers.

“For three decades, Saddam Hussein tortured his people in that jail but those crimes were not found out because there was no free press,” Mr Dogan says.

But he warns that democracy can only survive with the consent of citizens. It cannot be thrust upon people.

In the past, Turkey has suffered from the people’s prejudices, he says.

“What we want from the world is for it to be able to observe Turkey without prejudice,” Mr Dogan says.

Turkey welcomes free press

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey

Turkey wants a press that is pluralistic, egalitarian and democratic, says Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

New laws that are currently being introduced should ensure that, the Turkish prime minister says.

“We did not have a brilliant record on press freedom until a few years ago,” he admits.

Turkey was often subject to criticism, which was sometimes offensive, he says.

“Now we believe in informing individuals in a transparent manner will create a democracy,” he says.

These new laws will end sanctions that allowed the government to confiscate printing presses and stop circulation of newspapers, he says.

He also praises the decisive role that the press can play in society.

“It can defend the continuity of humanistic values, “ he says.

He says relations between Turkey and the European Union are at a critical point.

Turkey should learn by the end of the year when it can join the EU.

“Turkey has made its choice,” Mr Erdogan says.

He asks the press to support Turkey’s efforts to join the EU.

“We do not see the EU as an economic union or a Christian club,” he says.

It is a place where civilisations will meet in peace, he believes.

“We want to complete the modernisation that has taken place over two centuries with membership of the EU,” he says.

Turkey is a Muslim country that can set an example by its people’s ability to live in harmony, he says.