GagWatch

Just over a year after Turkey started membership negotiations with the EU, the European Commission has published a report which, among other things, is highly critical of restrictions on freedom of speech in the country - specifically highlighting the notorious article 301 of Turkey’s recently adopted penal code, which penalises insults against “Turkishness” as a cause for concern.

“The prosecutions and convictions for the expression of non-violent opinion under certain provisions of the new Penal Code are a cause for serious concern and may contribute to a climate of self-censorship in the country.”

“Freedom of expression in line with European standards is not yet guaranteed in the present legal framework,” Brussels concludes in the document.

It is worth noting that EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn has criticised some European politicians who used who have used reports such as this one - and a crisis over Cyprus - to promote their opposition to Turkish membership.

“Those who continue to question Turkey’s EU membership goal create a vicious circle,” he said stressing that “it is essential that the train remains on track.”

“In the public debate, one may get the impression that Turkey is backtracking on the reforms. This is not the case. Turkey has continued political reforms, even though their pace has slowed down during last year,” he said.

But he has urged Ankara to speed up efforts particularly on ensuring free speech. The Turkish government signaled last week that it is ready to revise article 301.

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