The Mesopotamia Women Journalists’ Platform (MKGP) released its report on the rights violations against women journalists in the first 7 months of 2022 at a press conference held at the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) office in Amed (Diyarbakır). DFG Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu and women journalists were present at the press conference.

The Turkish version of the report was read out by JiNNEWS Editor Journalist Habibe Eren and the Kurdish version by MGKP Spokeswoman Roza Metina.

161 RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

“As journalists, we have been reporting violations of rights against journalism for a long time. As the crackdown and censorship against journalists continue increasingly, journalists face violence, trials and prison sentences. Women journalists face more challenges in the field compared to their male colleagues,” the report said.

The report revealed that at least 161 rights violations took place, and 18 journalists were subjected to sexist insults and verbal attacks by men on social media platforms, as well as physical attacks by policemen during reporting activities in the first 7 months of the year. The report listed the rights violations against journalists as follows:

“14 journalists were subjected to violence, 6 journalists were threatened while doing their job, 10 journalists had their houses raided by the police, 26 journalists were detained, 1 journalist was harassed. 31 journalists were not allowed to follow events on the ground, and 1 journalist received a travel ban. 6 journalists were arrested for their journalistic activities. 1 journalist was forced to spy on behalf of the government, and 1 journalist was fired after giving a birth.”

10 JOURNALISTS WERE INVESTIGATED

Investigations were launched against 10 journalists and 12 journalists faced lawsuits due to their professional activities. 12 journalists were sentenced to 23 years, 10 months and 27 days in prison, and 4 journalists were fined 190 thousand 250 Turkish Lira in total. The trials of 105 journalists continued as part of 73 cases opened against them. At least 10 women journalists are still kept in various prisons in the country.”

DFG Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu condemned the attacks faced by her colleagues while covering events in Amed city. Müftüoğlu paid tribute to Kurdish journalist Deniz Fırat who was killed in an ISIS attack in Maxmur on 8 August 2014.  “We commemorate Deniz Fırat and the journalists who were killed while revealing facts to the public,” she stated.