Following the arbitrary detention of 22 people, including 20 journalists, in Diyarbakir in June 2022, 16 of them were arbitrarily arrested on June 16, 2022. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) condemn this new step in the violation of their right to freedom of press and expression and call for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained journalists, and for the end of any act of harassment against journalists in the country.

In a statement, FIDH and OMCT recall that "judicial harassment, including arbitrary detention, arrest and conviction of Kurdish dissidents, human rights defenders and journalists, particularly under the much-criticised anti-terrorism framework, is common practice in Turkey."

FIDH and OMCT condemn "the arbitrary arrest of the above-mentioned 16 journalists as well as the judicial harassment against them and other journalists in the country, as they seem to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate exercise of their freedom of expression, including press freedom.

Our organisations urge the authorities in Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release all the journalists currently arbitrarily detained in the country. FIDH and OMCT further call on the authorities to ensure that all journalists in Turkey are able to carry out their legitimate work without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment."

The statement added: "Our organisations express their utmost concern about the dangerous bill on disinformation and urge the authorities in Turkey to refrain from enacting it as well as to ensure, in all circumstances, the respect and protection of the right to freedom of expression, including press freedom, in the country."