Fox TV reporter excluded from AKP spokesman's press conference

A reporter for the opposition Fox TV, Barış Kaya has been excluded from a press conference held by AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik, after a Central Executive Board meeting of the party.

Friday September 03 2021 11:51 am

Duvar English

Fox News reporter Barış Kaya was excluded from a press conference held by ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Ömer Çelik after a Central Executive Board meeting on Sept. 2.

"The principle of freedom of the press has been violated! This is in direct violation of article 38 of the constitution!" the broadcaster said in an official statement.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey Representative Erol Önderoğlu noted that the reporter's exclusion from the meeting was a result of a direct instruction from Çelik.

"We condemn arbitrary practices, and believe that the real disrespect is done against the public with censorship," Önderoğlu said.

Kaya's exclusion from the press conference came shortly after he posed questions on air about former AKP minister Erdoğan Bayraktar who has been in the spotlight recently after saying that all accusations of corruption filed against him in 2013 were true.