Journalist Should Work Without Fear - Gulu Maharramli

Baku / 26.12.17 / Turan: The tendency of worsening of the situation with freedom of speech and the growth of press problems has been observed for several years. The year 2017 was not an exception, said the head of the Center for Assistance to the Development of Journalism, Professor Gulu Maharramli, in an interview with the Chetin Sual (Difficult Question) program.

According to him, the problems concern not only newspapers and television, but also Internet resources. The very fact of the arrest of a journalist of such caliber as the director of the Turan agency Mehman Aliyev on the far-fetched charge of tax evasion this year eloquently shows in what direction the events are developing.

Maharramli also called the arrest of the well-known blogger Mehman Huseynov a falsified accusation of libel.

"All this causes deep disappointment. How the processes will develop in the coming years is hard to say," the expert said.

Media in its essence fulfills the mission of public control over power. Its function is to criticize the shortcomings of the government and to provide the public with truthful information. For this, they persecute journalists who are not acceptable.

For example, the blogger Mehman Huseynov was preparing reports on villas and wondered where their owners got such funds from.

The journalist has the right to ask officials unpleasant questions, for example, concerning the use of budgetary funds, or the transfer of money offshore. When officials do not have answers, they put pressure on journalists and block websites, the expert said.

Answering the question of necessary reforms to ensure freedom of expression, Maharramli noted that journalists should first of all have access to information. When this is not there, the ground is created for rumors and unverified information.

Journalists must carry out their work without fear and self-censorship and the task of the state is to create such conditions.

"A journalist in a society that we want to build should work freely and independently. He must have sources of information. When he does not, he is cornered," Maharramli said. -03B--