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U.S. Department of State comments on deportation of Azerbaijani journalist from Turkey

08 February 2014 07:55 (UTC +04:00)

“We hope Turkey will uphold the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, and association”

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. The U.S. Department of State has commented on the deportation of Azerbaijani journalist Mahir Zeynalov from Turkey, APA reports. Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State Jen Psaki said at the briefing in Washington, DC that the U.S. doesn’t have any specific confirmation of any of the details that have been reported. “We have been and continue to be strong advocates for freedom of expression around the world, and we believe that democracies are strengthened by the diverse voices of their people. We look to Turkey as a democracy and ally to uphold the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. We believe that an independent pluralistic media is critical to a healthy and strong democracy,” he said.

Editor of Turkey-based Todays Zaman owned by the Nurcu movement, Azerbaijani citizen Mahir Zeynalov was deported from Turkey on February 7. The decision on deportation was passed basing on the appeal filed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to prosecutor’s office. Erdogan said that on his Twitter, Zeynalov used offensive words and incited the people to malice and hostility.