This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/340826-bild-journalist-barred-turkey/

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Turkey bars entry to photojournalist on Bild assignment Turkey bars entry to photojournalist on Bild assignment
(about 1 hour later)
Greek freelance photojournalist Giorgos Moutafis, who was trying to travel through Turkey on an assignment from German tabloid Bild, has been barred from entering the country without explanation.Greek freelance photojournalist Giorgos Moutafis, who was trying to travel through Turkey on an assignment from German tabloid Bild, has been barred from entering the country without explanation.
Moutafis, 38, was denied entry to Turkey after landing in Istanbul on Saturday and sent back to Athens. He was kicked out of the country less than an hour after German Chancellor Angela Merkel left it after visiting a refugee camp in Gaziantep, the newspaper pointed out. He intended to go to Libya from Turkey.Moutafis, 38, was denied entry to Turkey after landing in Istanbul on Saturday and sent back to Athens. He was kicked out of the country less than an hour after German Chancellor Angela Merkel left it after visiting a refugee camp in Gaziantep, the newspaper pointed out. He intended to go to Libya from Turkey.
"I was told at the passport control that my name was on a blacklist and that I'm not allowed to enter Turkey. Then my passport was taken from me until the early morning. I had to spend the night in a room in the airport. The reasons why I'm on this list were not explained to me," Moutafis said."I was told at the passport control that my name was on a blacklist and that I'm not allowed to enter Turkey. Then my passport was taken from me until the early morning. I had to spend the night in a room in the airport. The reasons why I'm on this list were not explained to me," Moutafis said.
He added that he entered Turkey six months ago with no problems, and that he cannot explain why he could have been banned since then.He added that he entered Turkey six months ago with no problems, and that he cannot explain why he could have been banned since then.
Moutafis is an internationally-acclaimed journalist and filmmaker, who has covered stories for outlets such as Newsweek, TIME, the New Yorker, Der Spiegel, the Guardian, Al Jazeera, CBS, CNN and the BBC, among others. He recieved the 2014 Press Freedom Award from Reporters Without Borders.Moutafis is an internationally-acclaimed journalist and filmmaker, who has covered stories for outlets such as Newsweek, TIME, the New Yorker, Der Spiegel, the Guardian, Al Jazeera, CBS, CNN and the BBC, among others. He recieved the 2014 Press Freedom Award from Reporters Without Borders.
The focus of his work is on the perils of asylum seekers travelling to Europe from the Middle East, but he also reported on the battle for the Kurdish city of Kobani in Syria, which may explain the Turkish authorities’ attitude.The focus of his work is on the perils of asylum seekers travelling to Europe from the Middle East, but he also reported on the battle for the Kurdish city of Kobani in Syria, which may explain the Turkish authorities’ attitude.
When asked for comments by RT, Bild said it would not provide any.
Last week, Turkey barred Volker Schwenck, a journalist working for the TV channel ARD, from entering the country. Ankara cited “security reasons.” Schwenck, who heads the channel’s Cairo bureau, intended to travel to Gaziantep to cover Merkel’s visit.Last week, Turkey barred Volker Schwenck, a journalist working for the TV channel ARD, from entering the country. Ankara cited “security reasons.” Schwenck, who heads the channel’s Cairo bureau, intended to travel to Gaziantep to cover Merkel’s visit.
Turkey’s crackdown on the media is a hot topic in Germany after Merkel failed to oppose the prosecution of a comedian who recited a crude poem criticizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ankara had complained that the poem was insulting.Turkey’s crackdown on the media is a hot topic in Germany after Merkel failed to oppose the prosecution of a comedian who recited a crude poem criticizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ankara had complained that the poem was insulting.
Some 2,000 libel cases have been filed in Turkey against people accused of insulting the president.Some 2,000 libel cases have been filed in Turkey against people accused of insulting the president.