Screenshot of Rahmet FM logo. Nazim Özsu was a presenter at the radio station.

19 March 2021

 

The MFRR condemns the murder of radio presenter Hazim Özsu in Turkey and calls for a swift and thorough investigation and prosecution that leads to justice

 

In the evening of 9th March, radio presenter Hazım Özsu was killed by a person who came to his house in Altınova Neighborhood in Osmangazi district. According to local media reports, the suspected killer was a long-term listener and had previously called the radio station to make complaints and demand corrections about its content.

 

On the day he was killed, Özsu had presented a programme with religious content on the Rahmet FM radio channel. After the suspect was apprehended, he reportedly said that he killed Özsu because he disliked some of his remarks on the radio.

 

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) calls on the Turkish authorities to ensure a swift and thorough investigation and prosecution that results in the perpetrator being held to account in court.

 

In this regard, we note with concern the endemic impunity for murders of journalists in Turkey: there has been no or incomplete justice for Hrant Dink, assassinated in Istanbul in 2007; Naji Jerf, gunned down in Gaziantep in 2015; Rohat Aktaş, found dead in Cizre in 2016; or Jamal Khashoggi, murdered in a Saudi consulate in 2018.

 

Impunity begets more violence and emboldens those seeking to silence journalists. It is high time for the Turkish authorities to take a stand and ensure the perpetrators and masterminds behind killings of journalists and media workers face justice.

 

ARTICLE 19

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

OBC Transeuropa

This letter has been coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries. This project provides legal and practical support, public advocacy and information to protect journalists and media workers. The MFRR is organised by a consortium led by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) including ARTICLE 19, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the Institute for Applied Informatics at the University of Leipzig (InfAI), International Press Institute (IPI) and CCI/Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT). The project is co-funded by the European Commission. www.mfrr.eu

Read news by categories:

Related news

Statement

Hungary: International coalition to hold fact-finding mission amid media reforms

Press freedom groups to visit Budapest six months into new Tisza government: From November 4 to 6, 2026, a coalition of international media freedom and journalist organisations will travel to Hungary to learn about the ongoing media reform under the Tisza government and provide expert recommendations for rebuilding press freedom after years of backsliding.

READ MORE
Statement

Serbia, Europe is watching: media freedom is a cornerstone of democratic elections.

The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and Safe Journalists Network (SJN) ahead of the parliamentary elections on 25 October are alarmed by the spiral of violence against journalists and by the overall situation surrounding media freedom.

READ MORE
Statement

ECPMF condemns violent attacks against journalists in Albania

ECPMF is alarmed by the attacks against journalists during the recent protests in Albania and condemns all acts of violence and obstruction targeting media professionals.

READ MORE
Statement

Being a queer journalist in Russia: “We keep going despite everything”

Russian journalist Vadim Vaganov speaks to ECPMF about LGBTQ+ persecution, censorship, press freedom and life in exile.

READ MORE
Statement

Malta: Press freedom groups lament another year passing without full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia murder

On the ninth anniversary of the murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the undersigned international media freedom and journalist groups today lament that full justice for the car bomb assassination remains painfully elusive.

READ MORE
Statement

Turkey: Trustee appointment at Halk TV must be reversed

The ECPMF and 12 press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights organisations call on the Turkish authorities to immediately end the takeover of Halk TV’s management and restore the broadcaster’s editorial independence. A criminal investigation into the channel’s owner cannot justify seizing control of a newsroom and silencing its coverage.

READ MORE
Tags :