German politician Ska Keller, vice chairwoman of the Greens in the European Parliament and a member of the European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), has said the Turkish government's seizure of the critical İpek Media Group justifies concerns about the deteriorating situation of press freedom in Turkey. Stating that she is highly concerned over recent developments in Turkey, Keller said her concerns grew after a series of meetings she had with Turkish journalists during a visit to the country last week. Noting that the appointment of a trustee to Koza İpek Holding, which is also active in the media, also justified these concerns. Stressing that press freedom is crucial in democracies, Keller said democracy would not function in a country where journalists are attacked and media organizations are seized.
