Umit Ozturk

We are in #Warsaw for the #OSCE Human Dimension Conference. Today's plenary speeches and discussions have a larger focus on press and media freedom.
It's good to see the continued diverse inclusion of civil society organisations.
Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️
#JournalismIsNotACrime
#OSCE #WHDC2025

NUJ welcomes introduction of journalist safety officers in every police force Journalists now have a dedicated safety officer in every UK police force, providing direct access to support when faced with abuse and threats of violence.

Journalists now have a dedicated safety officer in every UK police force, providing direct access to support when faced with abuse and threats of violence.

www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...

📢 On World Day For Decent Work we demand…

💰 Fair wages
🦺 Safety at work
👀 End of surveillance
🤝 Freedom of association
📰 Press freedom

#WorldDayForDecentWork #WDDW

🔴 In two years of war, over 223 Palestinian journalists have been killed in #Gaza in the deadliest period in the history of journalism. As journalists, unionists and, ultimately, humans, we cannot accept that reporters are killed amid indifference, be that in Gaza or elsewhere.

Successive #UK laws have restricted protest and now the UK government wants to ban repeat protests in the same area. While we recognise that some safety concerns exist, the police already have powers to handle serious disruptions. Any added restrictions come at too high a cost to our freedom.

Dear friends, we have the pleasure of inviting you to the online exhibition, "Unchain Our Books," which I curated for #BannedBooksWeek. It features examples of the banned books through history.
It's on display at @EuroMernet FB page:
www.fb.me/euromernet

Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊

I didn't have the chance to write a new poem for the #PoetryDay. In consolation, here's a photo showing me reading my poem "Exile as a toxic marmalade" on #WorldRefugeeDay last year. Time flies. But poetry stays forever: beautifully incurable, eternally inseparable.
Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

NUJ responds to removal of journalists from Labour Party Conference The NUJ is concerned by a decision to revoke the passes of journalists attending the Labour Party Conference.

The NUJ is concerned by a decision to revoke the passes of journalists attending the Labour Party Conference yesterday.

Our full response:
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...

Dear friends, we have the pleasure of inviting you to the exhibition I curated for Black History Month, featuring inspirational 11 female and 7 male Black philosophers. It's on display at Brighton Jubilee Library until 31st October. Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊
#BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #BHM2025

Dear friends, today is the International Day of Older Persons. The 2025 theme is: “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights.” We'll host more films on ageing well.
Today, we have a French romantic & poetic comedy.
Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

Dear friends; today is the #EuropeanDayOfLanguages, celebrated in 46 member states of the Council of Europe. 2025 theme is: "Languages open hearts and minds." To mark this day, at #EuroMernet Film Club, we have an Irish language comedy-drama.

Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

Killers of Martin O’Hagan must be brought to justice Ahead of the 24th anniversary of the murder of Martin O’Hagan, the NUJ has repeated its call for an independent investigation to ensure the perpetrators of his killing are brought to justice.

Killers of Martin O’Hagan must be brought to justice.

Ahead of the 24th anniversary of the murder of journalist Martin O'Hagan, the NUJ has repeated its call for an independent investigation and for the killers of O’Hagan to face justice.
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/kil...

Egypt: PEN International welcomes Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s release and urges Egyptian authorities to release imprisoned writers — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression... “We are thrilled to see Alaa reunited with his family and friends and look forward to seeing him together with his son in the UK. He is a remarkable writer and activist who should never have been impr...

#Egypt: We welcome the long-overdue release of writer & activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah after nearly 6 years in arbitrary detention. Our thoughts are with Alaa and his family as they reunite after this painful struggle.

Read our full statement ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/egypt-a...

Laila Soueif, Alaa Abd el-Fattah and Sanaa Seif embrace at home, surrounded by friends, following Alaa's release from prison.

We're incredibly relieved that Alaa Abd el-Fattah has finally been released from prison. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported Alaa and his family over these difficult years.
www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...

Alaa Abd el-Fattah pardoned Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s pardon is a major step forward and a huge relief, FairSquare said today after his lawyer reported that the President had issued a pardon for the British-Egyptian national. FairSqu...

We warmly welcome the news of British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah's pardon. This is an important and positive development, and a huge relief for his family. We remain by their side and guided by them, and will share more once there is further clarity.
fairsq.org/alaa-abd-el-...

Türkiye: PEN member Joakim Medin to be tried in absentia  — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide Turkish version below    By prosecuting Joakim Medin in absentia on spurious grounds and barring him from returning to Türkiye, the authorities are sending a chilling message to all journalists and...

#Türkiye: @pensweden.bsky.social member Joakim Medin faces years in prison on spurious terrorism grounds in #Türkiye. His trial in absentia will open in Istanbul on 25 September. All charges against him must be dropped.

Read our joint statement ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

We join @pressfreedom.bsky.social in condemning Israel’s killing of 31 Yemeni journalists and media workers, the deadliest attack on the press in 16 years. Journalists are civilians and must be protected under international law. We call for accountability and end to impunity. @penmena.bsky.social

This story highlights the risks AI-generated summaries pose to public trust in journalism.

The NUJ said: “With misinformation and disinformation rife online, tech giants have a crucial role to play in ensuring they do not amplify false news stories.”

Dear friends; today (21 September) is #WorldPeaceDay. At EuroMernet Film Club, we have a documentary about the history of the peace process in Northern Ireland: “The Secret Peacemaker”.

Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

EuroMernet team

Dear friends, at EuroMernet Film Club, this week we have a thriller to pay tribute to Robert Redford, who died this week: “The Company You Keep”.
Julie Christie, a member of EuroMernet’s International Board of Patrons, is the leading actress in this film.

Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

Write to End Violence Against Women Awards | End Violence Against Women

The Write to End Violence Against Women Awards, sponsored by the NUJ, recognise journalists and writers who report on violence against women responsibly, sensitively and accurately.

There are several categories you can enter before 30 September ⬇️
www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/campaign/wri...

PEN International launches its Manifesto on the Defence of Nature   — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide “The Manifesto on the Defence of Nature is not only about the environment; it is about the survival of language, culture, and imagination. Writers know that the stories of humanity cannot exist withou...

At PEN’s 91st Congress in Kraków, we launched the Manifesto on the Defence of Nature. Signed by writers worldwide, it calls on us all to be witnesses, protectors & visionaries in the face of the climate crisis.

Read the Manifesto ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/pen-int...

Taliban shut down WiFi, a lifeline for women and girls, in Afghan province Afghan government workers in Balkh province appeared to have been taken by surprise by the WiFi ban.

The #Taliban's decision to cut off Wi-Fi access in the Balkh region will have devastating consequences, particularly for women and girls who rely on a Wi-Fi to communicate and attend classes:
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Four arrests after images of Trump and Epstein projected on Windsor Castle Police said four people remain in custody after the

We are concerned by news that four people have been arrested over a projection on Windsor Castle protesting the arrival of #DonaldTrump. This seems to be another heavy-handed response to dissent by police:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

NUJ Ethics webinar: reporting on transgender people within journalism Join the Ethics council and speakers online on 24th September from 5.30-6.30pm

Event: reporting on transgender people within journalism.
On 24 September from 5.30pm-6.30pm, join the NUJ's Ethics council webinar on reporting on transgender people within journalism.
Read more about speakers and register your free place.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nuj-ethics...

PEN International’s resolutions to defend free expression, gender diversity, human rights, and climate justice  — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide “At this 91st Congress we affirmed that freedom of expression cannot be atomized —whether in defending peace against authoritarianism, protecting our planet, standing with trans and gender-diverse peo...

At our 91st Congress in Kraków, Centres adopted a landmark Resolution on Gender Diversity, the Human Rights of Transgender People, and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

Read our commitments and the full resolution ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/pen-int...

Big applause, big welcome, and.. big Mediterranean hugs to the new centres! 👏👏🤗💐
Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️

Today, PEN International President Burhan Sonmez reaffirmed our association’s commitment to writers everywhere.

Built on the defence of free expression, PEN International continues to stand firm against threats that silence voices around the world.

Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk joins PEN International leadership as Vice President  — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide “We are honoured to welcome Olga Tokarczuk as Vice President of PEN International. Through her powerful voice and works that have captivated readers across the globe, she has shown how storytelling ca...

PEN International is delighted to announce the appointment of literary giant and Nobel Prize-winning Polish writer and activist Olga Tokarczuk as Vice President of PEN International.

Read more ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/nobel-l...

We're attending the opening of
@peninternational.bsky.social 91st congress in #Krakow.
Excellent hosting by tireless friends at Polish PEN Club.
Inspiring words by Margaret Atwood, and with PEN International President Burhan Sönmez and Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk.
Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️