Supporters here in germany are joining the call, free deniz. Is this the end of press freedom . That is our question here on quadriga. Anne renzenbrink is a reporter with reporters without borders. She says it is more important than ever not to get intimidated and to express solidarity and support for the courageous colleagues still reporting in turkey. Thenk carbon is a fellow at turkey Hertie School of governance. Shes also a member of the independent experts on nondiscrimination. She says press freedom as well as other rights and liberties turkey. Ended in it is high time the european government acknowledge this. And finally, we welcome bulent mumay, a turkish journalist who writes regularly, including a column called letters from the stumble istanbul. He says journalism is one of the biggest crimes in turkey. Yourself arrested for a time after last years military to coup. Did the detention surprise you and is it a watershed . Bulent no one was expected to be arrested. Normally, when it is successful, journalists are being arrested. But we would never expect that when the coup has failed, the government would come and knock on our doors and arrest us. The problem is, it is not just arresting you, it is not just a punishment for yourself. It is a message to the rest of the media. They want to make your name dirty and try to wind and messed the rest of the media, dont criticize us. If you do the same thing, you will be jailed. Melinda and what message is incorporated in the arrest of yucel . Clearly this is a further step. What is the motive . Bulent this message is not just for turkish media. Is giving af deniz message to the rest of media. If you continue to arrest us, even if they continue writing against turkey or criticizing the government model, International Reporters , you say what extent can the government punishing . He has a turkish passport. Dilek that is one of the problems, the whole question of dual nationality and the hazards this can potentially cause. This has happened before in holland. There was a case also with a dutch turkish dual citizenship holder, a journalist. She was arrested and then released. That is one thing. The whole question of dual nationality. I think that is something that dissident People Living abroad are thinking about. In terms of what european governments can do, denizs arrest is shocking, because he is also a german citizen, but we have kurdish journalists who no one talks about even. Unnamed and many unknown journalists, and of course academics, judges, police, teachers, you name it, that are in jail. What can the european number governments do, and what should the German Government do . First of all, change. Stop making the errors they have been doing since the refugee deal. Frequent visits to turkey right before the election last year, posing with erdogan, treating this regime, which lacks any democratic credentials other than having been elected, as a legitimate partner sends the wrong message. Be like forsson to the German Government to think about what its role could have been in legitimizing this government for its own self , and for americas personal interests for merkels personal interests. Melinda in the past couple of days, chancellor merkel has made increasingly strong statements. She said for example, the German Government will do everything in released. To get yucel when you say berlin is doing enough . Is truly appreciate that merkel has been saying that the German Government will try to do everything for deniz yucels release. We appreciate that, howowever we also stress there are more than 150 journalists at the moment detained in turkey. We call upon the German Government to also be more outspoken, more clear on the names of the other journalists currently detained. Melinda let us in fact take a situation. Broader although this is the first case of a german journalist being selected swept up, many others are already sitting in jail. Announcer july 2016. After the failed military coup, president erdogan declared a state of emergency and the government began a crackdown on the news media. Last fall, the authorities arrested a number of journalists and executives of a daily newspaper that had been critical of the government. The papers editor in chief was jailed for several months. He was later released and he moved to germany. Journalists are still in jail in turkey. And tv andcompanies radio stations have been shut down. Officials have revoked the press credentials of hundreds of journalists. The World Press Freedom index lists turkey and the bottom third, 151st out o of 180 countries. Will turkey become the Worlds Largest prison for journalists . That, in fact, is what some human rights troops are now calling turkey. The turkish Authorities Say that the crackdown, which has affected not only journalists but also Civil Service servants, journalists, academics, a wide range of people, they say this is a necessary measure to eliminate security threats following the failed coup attempt. Does insecurity stemming from this really explain what we are seeing, or is there another broader purpose here . In everyctually, democracy, even in germany or the u. S. , the government never wants to be criticized. That is understandable. Now they i understand, are using the attempt to silence the entire opposition. Its not just about investigating whats really july. Ing on the 15th of its not just about who did the military coup. They are now using the military to deletee the power all the opposition in the country. Melinda the government itself has two responses to that. Number one, it says that mr. Yucel was associating with hackers who had released state secrets, thereby endangering the state. That has to do with the fact that mr. Yucel reported on emails sent and received by the energy minister, who happens to be the soninlaw of president erdogan. Inondly, they say mr. Yucel general has reported on the pkk, on the kurdish organization in such a way he is giving support to terrorists. Is there anything to those arguments . Dilek this comes from a government who until two years ago wasnt even negotiating with the leader of the pkk to end armed conflict. Of course, they will come up with some excuses. What can they say . This doesnt change the fact that the entire process is illegal, unconstitutional, contrary to the European Commission on human rights, and has no legitimacy. To their specific allegations against deniz yucel, he is a journalist who reported on information that was already published because it was leaked. The females are around. I havent seen them, but i assume i can. These emails are around. What is the role of journalists . It doesnt change the fact that for example, according to our report that was released by the Main Opposition Party on the state of emergency, over 2200 judges and prosecutors are in members ofding two the constitutional court. They are banned from their profession forever, without reason. They dont even know. There are no specific allegations. I read the opinion about the of twoive dismissal police. It is incredible. They basically said they would not review. There is no rule of law in turkey to question these arrests. Melinda which brings me to the governments second claim. They also say that it was not a political decision. It was taken by a judge acting within the scope of his discretion. The question there would be how independent is the judiciary still in turkey . Bulent it is not. Not independent. It is highly influenced by the government. The old judges are controlled by the government now. Even the judge who is looking to my own case. They are not just paying their salaries, they are deciding everything in the judicial system. They are not free. They are highly influenced by the government. It is a fact known by everyone in the country. It is done by the judiciary system. If you look at the Bigger Picture and political context at the moment, we have a referendum coming up in turkey in april which will essentially be voting on a new constitution that would dramatically widen the powers of the president erdogan. How do you see the repression against journalists in general and against mr. Yucel in particular as fitting ininto tht particular picture . Anne the referendum will take place when the state of emergency is still ongoing. More than six months into the emergency, we have seen a dramatic decline in press and that will still continue. We dont in the short term see an improvement of the current situation. The arrest of deniz yucel sends a signalal of intimidation to not only local journalists but also to foreign journalists, and it is a clear sign or a new dimension of repression against journalists. Melinda how would you say all of that is affecting the Political Climate in turkey . How much support is therefore is there for this path, the repression, and the referendum in general . First of all, the view from outside, and from inside. Anne we are seeing perhaps regarding the referendum is that that are still people dont agree with the referendum. That is what we see from the current polls, despite the media being brought into one line. You can basically see that the popopulation in turkey still sot of makes their own interpretation regarding the referendum, regarding the development, which is actually a good sign or a hopeful sign. Melinda would you agree with that . At the moment, despite the fact that the press is not free to report on repression to the degree its occurring, that there is still some degree of independent political thought and the Wider Community . Bulent actually, there is, but people are still paying a price. If you go out into the streets and try to do this in the community, some players say that you are being arrested. Flyers say that you are being arrested. That happened recently. Or if you go to talk to the people, they come and cut the electricity out of the home. Politician who wants to make a meetingng, and thee policeceman came and cut the electricity, and she was just there defending the note. Dilek, how do things look when you look at the Turkish Community here in germany . Interestingly enough, they can also vote in this referendum. How have they been reacting to in purchase and crackdowns turkey in general, and deniz yucels arrest in particular . Dilek theres a lot to be concerned about. Turkey has many turkish citizens who cannot vote, who live abroad, in germany. Thats why germany is important. When you look at the last election, akp got 49 . That is versus nearly 60 in germany. 64 in holland. 64 in austria. The support for akp here in germany and a few other European Countries is disproportionately higher. Melinda why is that . Dilek that has to do with the sociological demographic constitution of the workers who came here, who still are the majority of the immigration immigrant population here. , more traditional people they were conservative, more traditional people. That is versus when you look at the u. S. Or canada, the support for akp as at 14 because there there immigrant population is high educated. That explains a lot. Having said that, theres also refugee communities here. Ther the coup detat in 90s, there are kurds. When you look at akp support in germany and also in a few other countries, also much higher than in turkey. The votes here are cross pollinated, and the Participation Rate last time was 36 . A lot will depend on the mobilization of the vote here. Thatsonally am just hoping more people will be mobilized, and more people will be mobilized to say no. Melinda for all the reasons you just outlined, the campaign on this referendum is in fact being waged also right here in just heard,reas we there is a very large turkish population that is entitled to vote. Let us take a look at what that campaign entails. Announcer turkish Prime Minister was in germany last month to try to convince turkish overseas voters to support rendum on some referendum on expanding the powers of the president. Some protesters werent set upset about this campaign stop. Course, politicians have the right to speak in public here in germany. But he is campaigning for erdogan, and against the president s critics. The government calls those critics terrorists. That has to stop. Tourncer was his Campaign Just the beginning . President erdogan says he too will visit germany before the vote to try to win over turkish voters. How should the German Government respond to this kind of electioneering . Anne renzenbrink, the turkish president is scheduled to speak in germany. Given all we have been talking about, should such appearances be prohibited and can they be . General, somein human rights organizations fighting for press freedom, we sending someone prohibiting someone to give a speech. However, i think what could be a good thing would be a statement from the German Government to stress that its not the desire polarization into germany. That is something we would appreciate. Melinda how do you sesee this, bulent mumay . We heard highranking european officials saying that we need to keep the lines of communication open. We condemn this arrest, but we feel it is important to keep that dialogue going. Would you agree with that, or do you think the German Government needs to come down much harder . Bulent actually, the reaction is too late. I dont think anything can be done by europe or germany anymore to stop hunting in the country. Stop something in the country. Merkel came to turkey seven times in two y years, and on several visits she met the opposition party. She gave quite a strong statement about the arrest of journalists. I think it is too late. Two days ago, the Justice Minister of germany gave a statement. I think it is the time to stop being silent against what is happening in the country. It is too late. You just start to criticize something, unfortunately it is too late. We are not against our will on country. Our own country. We are a friend of democracy. But the reaction came slowly from europe. I dont think they have any leverage to change the minds in the country. Ilek, those are strong words, too late. On the other hand, we do see turkey reaching out towards russia, to china, new overtures to both. Weapons systems from russia, which seems somewhat surprising from a country that is a nato member. Has there already been an irrevocable break with the rest west . Dilek irrevocable, i dont know. When you look at turkeys history, the religious history of the relationship between turkey and europe, we see this. European politicians make this mistake time and again. The whole question of we have to communicationsof open, thats what theyve been doing for 50 years. Key was never discussed dismissed from the council of europe, even after the overthrow in 1980. We know this hasnt worked. Turkey, i would say that our government and our society, i think we react better when we see a firm stance. You have the would German Government do quite precisely, right now in this situation . If you want to come and speak here, give clinical rallies political rallies, you have to allow all journalists and politicians in germany to do the same. 13 that are in jail. And we will do the referendum. When you see an authoritarian regime, you have to name it. Course, theres the concern about the implication of nato. We dont want turkey close to russia. Europe doesnt want to, and we dont either. I agree that it is too late anyhow, but also dont make the mistake of making this all about german journalists. Is about democracy. Bulent it started with the rest, and came to germany. Toinda anne renzenbrink, what degree is germany over a barrel here . First of all, the refugee deal that was mentioned earlier, germany and europe have a deal with turkey by which you are supposed to hold back the refugee flow. Secondly, turkey is fighting the islamic state, and the German Military uses a base in turkey. To what extent does that make it very difficult for germany to react more strongly . Anne it is something that we have been criticizing, the german rhetoric that was not Strong Enough or clear enough. To the it is linked massive interest germany has in turkey, but we should also stress it is not a onesided dependency. Theres also the european in terms of economic dependence with turkey y from germany of te european union, i think the German Government could be stronger and clearer in their message, and not only focus on deniz yucel, who is important, but also on the remaining 150 journalists in jail. Posesour title post the question, the end of freedom in erdogans turkey. Bulent it is already over. We dont have any freedom for journalists. We lost our freedom. That is the sad part. Even our friends still living in turkey, they d dont have anyny chance. The biggest newspaper in turkey, the previous one i was working storyhey just published aa which the government did not like, and they had to fire the editor in chief. Melinda the end of press freedom in turkey, and could it change after the referendum . No comes up, we should have reason to be hopeful. Of course, we dont know how erdogan will react. The endomes up, it is of everything. It is the end of democracy, rule of law, and any prospects for improvement. Anne i think there is some small island of press freedom as the turkey, such newspaper. I think we owe it to them to support them, because they are working under constant fear. Melinda we should support them. Melinda melinda thank you very much for being with us today. And thanks to all of you for tuning in. See you soon. vxuuna this week, global 3000 heads to bolivia. In the capital, la paz, young people are finding out how to cook healthy and yummy food. In india, well show you how to raise baby elephants. But first, lets take a look at the cult surrounding the russian president vladimir putin, who has all the makings of a populist. But what is populism . The word populus is latin for people. It can take many shapes sometimes originating from the political left, at other times, from the right