The Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) opposes the state closure of 29 publishing houses in Turkey, which have had their assets seized by the government following a failed coup d’état last month. Dozens of other media outlets have also been closed, and according to the State of Emergency decree issued by the Turkish government, more closures may ensue.
Like our colleagues at the Turkish Publishers Association (TPA) and International Publishers Association (IPA), ACP condemns this assault on democracy and freedom of expression. In addition to the implications for human rights that stem from the government’s actions, the financial consequences for the affected firms, their authors, translators, and employees are severe and threaten the publishing ecosystem in Turkey.
“Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy and central to human rights,” said President Matt Williams. “We at the ACP join our colleagues from around the world in urging the government to rescind the decision to close these publishers and to uphold a system where freedom of expression is protected.”