MLSA, April 15, 2024 - The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) announced plans to appeal a decision to not prosecute a party official, identified only as A.K., who blocked journalist Sultan Keleş from filming at a polling station during the presidential elections on May 28. The incident occurred at Kadıköy Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Istanbul, where Keleş, a reporter for KRT, was forcibly removed from the premises despite presenting her press credentials.
The Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office decided that there was no grounds for prosecution following a complaint lodged by the MLSA Legal Unit, which alleged that A.K. violated Keleş's freedom to work and operate. Despite this initial ruling, the MLSA Legal Unit is preparing to challenge the decision, asserting the importance of press freedom, especially during critical events like elections.
