The Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) and the Association of Caricaturists noted that humour has been censored ever since the days of the Ottoman Empire until today. Censorship of humour was the topic of the panel discussion entitled "Press Freedom in the Light of Humour and Comics" organized in co-operation of the two associations. At the same time, the panel in the press museum marked the opening of the "Press Freedom Caricature Exhibition" to be seen in Istanbul till the end of May.

TGC President Orhan Erinç said in his speech that caricaturists are being gagged in countries where the press was not free. The creations of caricaturists were being restricted by law suits and compensation claims, Erinç criticized.

"The judiciary should display more tolerance towards cartoonists. This is one of the recommendations of the European Council to widen the concept of freedom of expression. This decision was also signed by ministers from Turkey. However, the necessary legal amendments to apply this decision are not being made", Erinç pointed out.

Humorous Press silenced for 33 years by Abdul Hamid II

The President of the Association of Caricaturists, Akdağ Saydut, talked about the long history of censoring caricatures. He emphasized that starting with the reforms until today, caricaturists who were opposing the governing power were always punished. Saydut gave a brief history of censorship of caricatures.

* The first censorship during the Ottoman times: In 1867, the humorous magazine "Diogenes" was banned from publication on the grounds of the restrictive attitude of the ministers.

* During the reign of Abdul Hamid II, all magazines are being closed down. All humorists went abroad and the humorous press fell silent for 33 years.

* Upon the declaration of the constitution in a more relaxed political environment a total of 92 humorous magazines are published in Turkey.

* With the regime of the Unification Progress that tightened up after the land loss in 1911, censorship of the press became more prevalent.

* The Eşşek magazine as the first and most important materialist magazine reaches a circulation of 42,000 copies. The government decided to shut the magazine down.

* The former laws are still valid after the proclamation of the Republic in 1923.

* Sabahhattin Ali, Aziz Nesin, Rıfat Ilgaz and Mim Uykusuz founded the Markopaşa magazine. With a class-orientated perspective, the circulation of the magazine increases from 6,000 to 60,000 copies. All four founders of the magazine go to jail. The magazine was re-opened under seven different names. Sabahattin Ali, who was planning to go abroad, became the victim of an unsolved murder. The perpetrators were never found.

811 journalists in jail for 57 years under Democratic Party

* 811 journalists are sentenced to imprisonment of 57 years in total during eight years when the Democratic Party was in power.

* Censorship of the press experiences an increase after the military coup on 27 May 1960.

* A referendum on the constitution was held after the military coup on 12 September 1980. Calls to vote against the referendum were expressed on blue cards featuring the word "no". Thereupon, caricaturist İsmail Gülgeç was banned from using the colour blue.

* Dozens of trials on the grounds of an alleged attack on the personal rights of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were lodged against humorous magazines since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power.

"It's the blank piece of paper that inspires the caricaturist, not the politician"

Caricaturist Semih Poroy said that a caricature is the most effective way of mocking and weakening all members of the political leadership.

"A caricature mocks the family, religion, school - in short all structures of the power. Therefore, the ban of caricatures is a reflex of the power. It is not the politician that inspires the caricaturist but the blank piece of paper".

(NV/ŞA/VK)

Click here to view pictures from the caricature exhibition.