Turkey’s Hidden Truths

The BBC World Service airs Turkey’s Hidden Truths on Saturday, February 1 at 1406 EST and Sunday, February 2 at 1032 EST.  This program follows the regular BBC World Service clock. On Saturday, February 1st, From Our Own Correspondent will be dropped to accommodate. On Sunday, February 2nd, Healthcheck will be dropped to accommodate the program.

Program Duration: Available in two durations to fit the first half or the second half of the hour: 23 minutes or 26 minutes 30 seconds (or 30 minutes including news bulletins, billboards & promos)

Transmission: The 23 minute version airs on Saturday, February 1st at 1406 EST. The 26 minute 30 second version airs on Sunday, February 2nd at 1032 EST

Available to broadcast: February 1-7

Download: This program is also available to download from the Specials section of the BBC Partner Site.

Clock: This program follows the regular BBC World Service Clock

Description: Selin Girit examines the media clampdown currently occurring in Turkey.

Turkey’s Union of Journalists says that in the last few months, more than 200 journalists have been sacked or forced to resign for covering issues the government finds sensitive and there also appears to be a creeping culture of self censorship.

Journalists are physically safer today than in the 1990s when the Kurdish conflict was in its most intense phase, but critics say they do not know when or why they might be prosecuted or jailed now.

Turkey’s Journalists’ Union says that Turkey is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world. Recently, seven journalists received life sentences, not for their journalism, the judges say, but for terrorism. Critics say that sweeping anti-terror laws are being used like a dragnet catching anyone straying too close to the red lines in Turkish politics.