The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) published its report on human rights violations against journalists for the month of February.

The report said that "the detention of Kibriye Evren and Selamet Turan on 9 February, the detention of 5 journalists in Izmir on 13 February, and the detention of 3 journalists in Van on 27 February were the most striking events. The release of journalists in Izmir on the condition of house arrest and judicial control after a 4-day detention period actually means releasing them from prison but imprisoning them at home and preventing them from doing journalism. The detention and arrest of PIRHA reporter Diren Keser in Mersin was a development that reinforced our idea of how afraid the government is of journalists."

The report pointed out that there has been no news from journalist Süleyman Ahmed, who has been in custody in South Kurdistan, for 132 days, and added: "Why was Dicle Müftüoğlu kept in prison for 10 months? Is there a judicial body that can answer this question? Dicle is among us now, but what will we do with the 10 months that were stolen from her freedom, with what legal terms will we explain it? This situation doesn’t just apply to Müftüoğlu, but to all those held in prison." All journalists deprived of their freedom should be released as soon as possible.”

Balance sheet of violations

The report said that 4 journalists were attacked, 11 journalists' houses were raided, and 13 journalists were detained in February. It was reported that 3 journalists were arrested, 9 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment, and 5 journalists were prevented from following the news.

According to the report, an investigation was launched against 8 journalists, while a prison sentence of 20 years, 6 months and 18 days was requested for the 4 journalists against whom a lawsuit was filed. It was stated in the report that 53 journalists' files were still ongoing and the number of imprisoned journalists was 42 as of 4 March. The report added that 11 broadcast bans were given by RTÜK, one website was closed, 30 news items were blocked, and 51 media contents were blocked.