Today in History – 7 May

İnönü visits imprisoned journalists

On May 7, 1958, CHP President İsmet İnönü visited Ulus newspaper columnists Beyhan Cenkçi, Nihat Subaşı, and Şinasi Nahit Berker, who were convicted in May of 1958 by the Collective Press Court on the grounds of press offences. In the ensuing days, Yeni Gün newspaper and Akis magazine were investigated and some of their writers were arrested.

Coming into power after the May 14, 1950 elections, Democrat Party had generated considerable support from the press as it had pledged to guarantee freedom of the press prior to the elections. The new Press Law enacted on July 15, 1950 was a liberal act that had considerably lifted government control over the press.

Following the Korean War; however, the government’s tolerance towards the press shifted. With the Law number 6334 issued in 1954, “insulting integrity, honor, or dignity or publishing derogatory news that would harm reputation or fortune” was prohibited and the freedom of the press was significantly restricted. In 1956, two more laws curtailing the freedom of the press were enacted. While “publishing with foul intention or special purpose” was included within the scope of offence, press law was added new, restrictive provisions.

1,161 journalists were prosecuted between 1954 and 1958 alone. 238 of these were convicted. With the establishment of an Investigation Council on April 27, 1960, pressure on the press reached a new peak. Formed within the Grand National Assembly, the Investigation Council had the right to stop the printing and distribution of newspapers and magazines, and to shut down newspapers that did not abide by censorship laws.