The Turkish state struck again on Tuesday morning against the press critical of the regime. Police units searched the editorial office of the Mezopotamya (MA) news agency in Ankara and several apartments in various cities in Turkey and North Kurdistan on the orders of the Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office. Six journalists from MA and JinNews were arrested.

Three MA journalists arrested

While the search of the MA office in Ankara was ongoing, the police stormed apartments where correspondents from the agency and the women's news agency JinNews were staying. The homes of MA correspondent Zemo Ağgöz in Ankara, Selman Güzelyüz in Amed-Kayapınar and Hakan Yalçın in Van were searched by the police and the magazines Democratic Modernity and Jineolojî and a large number of books were confiscated. After the searches, Güzelyüz and Yalçın were arrested.

The apartment of MA journalist Emrullah Acar in Urfa was also stormed, and Acar was arrested after the house was searched. In addition, the home of Acar's family in Dargeçit in Mardin province was searched and many books were confiscated.

MA Editor-in-Chief Arrested

After a raid on her apartment in Istanbul, MA editor-in-chief Diren Yurtsever was also arrested. Many books were also confiscated during the search of the apartment. Yurtsever was apparently taken to the Istanbul Police Headquarters.

Two JinNews correspondents arrested

The home of JinNews correspondent Habibe Eren was stormed in Amed. Following the search, JinNews correspondents Habibe Eren and Derya Ren were arrested. The Turkish police also took action against JinNews in Mardin. The home of journalist Öznur Değer was searched in the district town of Kızıltepe.

So far, nothing is known about the reason for this massive attack on the free media in Turkey and North Kurdistan.