169 journalists in Turkish prisons in the month of January

“Free press is essential for the continuation of democratic functioning and that all journalists who are detained should be released.”

The Free Journalists Initiative (ÖGİ) released the report on rights violations affecting journalists in the month of January.

"The policy of oppression, intimidation and attack against press workers carried out by the AKP - said the statement -  has become much more systematic.”

The report drew attention to the attempt by the government to silence opposition journalists, through various actions, such as ordering the closure of media and thus expelled journalists who found themselves unemployed.

The report added: "(...) A society exposed to severe disinformation is a poisoned society. This style of politics that disrupts social peace and silences free and independent journalism must be abandoned.”

The Free Journalists Initiative added that “Free press is essential for the continuation of democratic functioning and that all journalists who are detained should be released.”

The report listed the violations for the month of January as follows:

169 journalists are in prison

2 journalists taken into custody

1 journalist remanded in custody

4 journalists prosecuted

100 journalists tried

5 journalists were sentenced (four journalists were sentenced to 20 years and 9 months in prison, one journalist was fined 8 thousand 660 TL and 1 year and 1 month and 15 days of imprisonment.)

1 book was not accepted by the prison administration. (Musa Anter's Book)

Three journalists released from prison

1 journalist deported