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The appeal of Azerbaijan’s Press Council to media not to propagandize actions directed against the Turkish statehood can be considered an intervention in media freedom, Azerbaijani journalists and experts told the Caucasian Knot information source.

According to the information, the Press Council of Azerbaijan had earliercalled on the Azerbaijani media not to propagandize “actions directed towards the violation of the public order in Turkey, the undermining of the statehood in that country, as well as towards people who initiate similar activities.”
However, AlekserMammadli – a media rights expert and member of Civil Society Platform public union –observes signs of an attempt to intervene with media freedom in the Press Council’s appeal.

“Journalists should not be dictated or ‘advised’ how to cover events, and whosepart to take. The task of the media is to cover events and processes impartially and to present the viewpoint of all sides,”Mammadli states.

In his opinion, the Press Council moves away from the principles of the respect for the right using unambiguous phrases about “terrorism, inspirers, and terrorism accomplices.”

“Only the court can call someone a terrorist or terrorist accomplice. As itis known, there are no judicial decisions about the July 15-16events in Turkey. The US-based nursist preacher FetullahGulenis considered a terrorist in Ankara. However, there are no criminal proceedings in the US against him as a terrorist. Whereas in our country, the work of the ANS TV company has been suspended only because its reporter participated in Gulen’s press-conference in the US, which was not even broadcast,”Mammadlihighlights.

In his turn, Media Rights Institute member Khalid Agaliyev believes that the task of the media is to cover all the sides and opinions even in the most complicated and tense situations. He assumes that the Press Council’s appeal to the media “is dictated by political conjuncture and is caused by the Azerbaijani authorities’ commitment to give absolute support to the Turkish government.”

ShahinHajiyev – editor-in-chief of the online media outlet contact.az – also considers the Press Council’s position incorrect. “The Press Council should not indicate what to write, and what to do. Their appeals are not a decree for the independent media. On the other hand, the Press Council calls to take a political stance.This is impermissible,”Hajiyevemphasizes.

Turan news agency columnist TofigTurkel notes that the Press Council is associated with the official position. “For the pro-governmental media, which are an absolute majority,itsrecommendations are in fact ‘instructions’ to be implemented. ThePress Council’s initiative is obviously launched by the Azerbaijani government, which wants to express its support for the current Turkish authorities once again,”Turkelassures.

Earlier, the work of the independent ANS TV channel was suspended in Azerbaijan for preventing the broadcasting of the interview with the US-based Turkish opposition preacher FethullahGulen. The interview of ANS with Gulenwas described as “propaganda of terrorism.” The website of the local Zaman-Azerbaijan newspaper was also closed down. It was highlighted that the media outlet is assumed to be linked to FethullahGulen.

On the night of July 16, a coup attempt was organized in Turkey. The main clashes were in Ankara and Istanbul. The authorities of the country stated that the putsch had been quelled. According to the latest information, 190 Turkish citizens died, more than 100 rebels were killed, and over 1,5 thousands of people were injured during the clashes.

Ankara accused the US-based Turkish writer, former imam and preacher FethullahGulen of organizing the putsch. Turkish president Recep Erdogan called on the US president Barack Obama to extradite him to Ankara. Gulen denied his involvement in the coup attempt and even stated that the rebellion could have been staged by the government of the country.