Many commentators directed strong criticism at the Prime Ministry for its move, saying such a practice is unacceptable in a democracy and calling on it to review its decision. "Is the Prime Ministry, which revoked the press accreditation of seven journalists, emulating the General Staff?" asks Sabah's Nazlı Ilıcak, who directs criticism at the ministry, calling its move a type of censorship. "The General Staff's [move] was an institutional attitude; however, the Prime Ministry is taking a stand against journalists -- not press institutions -- just because they leaked news, asked provocative questions or wrote something undesirable," explains Ilıcak, saying that there is also a stand against media organizations because journalists from newspapers who oppose the government's policies are denied accreditation. Ilıcak, who says she knows two of the journalists -- Turan Yılmaz and Abdullah Karakuş -- whose accreditation was revoked by the Prime Ministry, maintains that they adhere to the code of press ethics very well. "I see the Prime Ministry's move as a kind of censorship. It means to say, ‘You will say nice things about us, you will not ask bothersome questions, or else you will leave the Prime Ministry boat'," explains Ilıcak.
Radikal's Hakkı Devrim calls the Prime Ministry's accreditation policy a serious crime against the press and the public's right to have access to news and learn the facts, noting that the perpetrators of this crime are unfortunately Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government. "The Prime Ministry's revocation of the accreditation of seven journalists is ridiculous, and it is a sign of recklessness. I hope press institutions and newspapers will react as necessary to this," says Devrim.
Milliyet's Fikret Bila interprets the Prime Ministry's move as pressuring Prime Ministry reporters and intimidating other reporters who will follow the prime minister. "The revocation of accreditation without a judicial ruling is a message to the reporters who will follow the Prime Minister from now on, saying: ‘Be careful. If you print news that annoys us, we will also revoke your accreditation.' This is a practice that is not seen in democratic countries," complains Bila. According to Bila, even if the Prime Ministry reporters in question have made mistakes, revoking their accreditation is not the way to correct their mistakes. "Certainly, reporters can make mistakes, and there are ways to correct mistakes. The important thing for reporters is to avoid writing news incorrectly. Just because a reporter made several mistakes in reporting does not mean that he does not comply with the principles of press ethics," adds Bila. In light of this, he calls on Erdoğan to review this decision regardless of whether or not he was informed about it beforehand.
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