Reporters Without Borders is outraged that Yörsan, a privately-owned dairy products company, is threatening to sue the news website EmekDunyasi.net if it does not withdraw archived articles that reflect poorly on the company. The site could be closed if it refuses to take down old reports about union action taken by 400 Yörsan employees in 2008.
“This kind of judicial blackmail is a real problem,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Few journalists dare to criticise private sector companies or financial groups for fear of reprisals. We urge the Turkish courts not to tolerate Yörsan’s censorship attempt, which could set a dangerous precedent for the online media.”
The press freedom organisation added: “The company seems to think it has a right to draw a veil over the past. In reality, this is an aggressive public relations initiative designed to suppress records of an industrial relations dispute that is not good for the company’s image.”
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