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IFJ welcomes release of Dutch journalist acquitted of terrorist charges in Turkey
The International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) welcomes today’s release by Turkish court of Dutch freelance journalist Frederike Geerdink.
Geerdink had been accused of making “terrorist propaganda” for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). She was briefly detained in January following the raid in her home by the authorities.
Together with the Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the IFJ had condemned the arrest and prosecution of Geerdink saying that the charges against her violated international law and treaties ratified by the Turkish government on freedom of expression.
“Frederike Geerdink’s release is a great victory for press freedom” said the IFJ President Jim Boumelha. “We hope that further restrictions against the press and foreign corespondents in Turkey will be lifted swiftly. We remain deeply concerned by the level of verbal and physical violence against our colleagues working in Turkey and we stand by our affiliates who fight very hard on the ground”.