The DFG and the MKG held a press statement in front of AZC Plaza, located in the Ofis neighborhood of Yenişehir district, to protest against the ongoing pressures and arrests of journalists.

The action was attended by numerous journalists, alongside representatives including Mahmut Oral, Amed Representative of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS); Hakkı Boltan, Amed Representative of DISK Press Union; Adalet Kaya and Ceylan Akça, Amed Members of Parliament from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party); Beycan Taşkıran, a member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP); as well as representatives from civil society organizations and political parties.

Pressure on journalists continues systematically

The Kurdish version of the statement was read by MKG president Roza Metina, and the Turkish version was read by DFG co-chair Selman Çiçek. 

Highlighting that the pressure on press freedom in Turkey persists systematically, Çiçek stated that journalists face a new wave of detentions every day.

He continued: "In this period of political and economic crises faced by the government, the first target remains media workers. According to data from the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Turkey ranks among the countries in a 'very bad' situation regarding press freedom. While evaluating press freedom in Turkey, particular attention should be given to the pressures on the Free Media. Because while all media workers are under intense pressure, employees of Free Press and Kurdish journalists feel this burden twice as much. Turkey, as in previous years, has once again turned into a prison for Kurdish journalists. While we were awaiting the release of our detained colleagues, new arrests have taken place during this process.''

Journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were targeted and killed by a drone in an attack carried out by Turkey on 19 December 2024 while reporting in Northern and Eastern Syria, Selman Çiçek reminded. He continued: "Journalists protesting these massacres in Istanbul; Gülistan Dursun, Hayri Tunç, Enes Sezgin, Osman Akın, Can Papila, Pınar Gayıp, and Serpil Ünal were detained on December 22 and subsequently arrested. Additionally, Etkin News Agency reporter Züleyha Müldür, detained during an operation targeting members of the Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), was also arrested. During the raids carried out on January 17 as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, journalists Necla Demir, Rahime Karvar, Ahmet Güneş, Welat Ekin, Vedat Örüç, and Reyhan Hacıoğlu were arrested on charges of 'membership in an organization.' Similarly, journalist Eylem Babayiğit was detained at her home on January 22 and later arrested under the same investigation.

More recently, a total of two journalists have been killed, and 14 journalists have been arrested. In addition, journalists Seyhan Avşar, Ahmet Doğan Akın, and Candan Yıldız are under investigation for their social media posts about Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin."

Recalling that Siirt co-mayor Sofya Alağaş received a six-year and three-month prison sentence for cases related to her journalistic activities, Selman Çiçek said: "We emphasize once again that the sentence imposed on Sofya Alağaş for her journalistic activities is unlawful and that journalism cannot be put on trial.  We also reiterate that the Free Press will never take a step back, no matter how many such sentences are handed down. While journalists are being arrested and prevented from practicing their profession, those who remain outside face significant pressure, obstructing their ability to report. Even journalists who are released are constantly subjected to intimidation and harassment policies, spending much of their time in courthouse corridors. Once again, we want to emphasize: It is impossible to speak of press freedom in a country where journalists are imprisoned." 

Journalists will always be the voice of the people

Selman Çiçek unerlined that censorship and publication bans continue to suppress press freedom. He emphasized that news agencies and media organizations are systematically subjected to censorship. He specifically mentioned that social media accounts of platforms such as Yeni Yaşam newspaper, JINNEWS, and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) face restricted access. He continued: "While there have been attempts in the new year to rekindle faith in democracy and justice in Turkey, the ongoing attacks on journalists once again reveal the severe decline of the country's democracy. In a place where the press is not free, it is impossible to speak of freedom and democracy for society. As the colleagues of detained journalists, we once again declare: We will never stop being the voice of the people. We will not compromise on the truth. We will continue our struggle until these oppressive policies against journalists are completely abolished and until all our imprisoned journalist friends are released.  And we will always proclaim: 'Journalism is not a crime!'"