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Turkish paper fires readers' editor after refusing to publish his columns Turkish paper fires readers' editor after refusing to publish his columns
(2 months later)
The veteran Turkish journalist Yavuz Baydar has been fired from the daily newspaper Sabah, where he was its readers' editor, after two of his columns were rejected for publication.The veteran Turkish journalist Yavuz Baydar has been fired from the daily newspaper Sabah, where he was its readers' editor, after two of his columns were rejected for publication.
On the first occasion on 24 June, Baydar wrote a column that criticised the government's handling of the Gezi Park protests. It was not published.On the first occasion on 24 June, Baydar wrote a column that criticised the government's handling of the Gezi Park protests. It was not published.
But Baydar did publish readers' letters that took issue with the government's handling of the protests.But Baydar did publish readers' letters that took issue with the government's handling of the protests.
After Sabah's editorial board declined to publish his column, the editor-in-chief, Erdal Şafak, wrote his own column attacking Baydar for his stance on the Gezi protests .After Sabah's editorial board declined to publish his column, the editor-in-chief, Erdal Şafak, wrote his own column attacking Baydar for his stance on the Gezi protests .
Facing censorship and mounting pressure Baydar took leave from the paper, during which he wrote an article for the New York Times, "In Turkey, media bosses are undermining democracy".Facing censorship and mounting pressure Baydar took leave from the paper, during which he wrote an article for the New York Times, "In Turkey, media bosses are undermining democracy".
It revealed the deepening ties between media owners and the government at the expense of press freedom, claiming that the publishers were guilty of "shady dealings" in order to secure lucrative business deals with the government led by prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.It revealed the deepening ties between media owners and the government at the expense of press freedom, claiming that the publishers were guilty of "shady dealings" in order to secure lucrative business deals with the government led by prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
When he returned to Turkey, Baydar sent another column to Sabah. It reportedly detailed how the relationship between an editor-in-chief and the readers' editor should work.When he returned to Turkey, Baydar sent another column to Sabah. It reportedly detailed how the relationship between an editor-in-chief and the readers' editor should work.
He did not accept that the editor-in-chief should censor the readers' editor, an apparent reference to Şafak's published criticism when the paper refused to publish his earlier piece.He did not accept that the editor-in-chief should censor the readers' editor, an apparent reference to Şafak's published criticism when the paper refused to publish his earlier piece.
The newspaper refused to publish it and Baydar was formally dismissed yesterday (23 July).The newspaper refused to publish it and Baydar was formally dismissed yesterday (23 July).
Baydar is also a columnist for the English-language newspaper, Today's Zaman, which carried a report on Monday on the claim by the Turkish Journalists Union that at least 22 journalists have been fired since the Gezi protests began.Baydar is also a columnist for the English-language newspaper, Today's Zaman, which carried a report on Monday on the claim by the Turkish Journalists Union that at least 22 journalists have been fired since the Gezi protests began.
Baydar has previously written articles for The Guardian.Baydar has previously written articles for The Guardian.
Sources: Today's Zaman/New York TimesSources: Today's Zaman/New York Times
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