FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• The government is seeking its future in silencing the media 

  According to Bianet's Media Monitoring Report for April-May-June, 17 journalists were detained and one was released in the three-month period. While 19 journalists were attacked, five women journalists were subjected to online attacks and threats.
• Journalists in Amed hold press conference in solidarity with their colleagues in prison 

  Journalists in Amed held a press conference in solidarity with their colleagues in prison.
• JRO reports increasing violations against journalists in South Kurdistan 

  71 cases of violations against journalists were recorded in South Kurdistan cities in the first six months of the year.
• Young journalist found killed in Deir ez-Zor 

  Menal Salih al Mizel, who worked as a journalist at the Deir ez-Zor Civil Council Press Office, was found dead, beheaded in a abandoned house.
• Action today in Kadıköy to mark first month of detention of 16 journalists 

  DFG, MKGP and DISK/Basın-Iş will hold an action today in Kadıköy, Istanbul, to mark the first month of detention of 16 journalists.
• Families of jailed journalists subjected to strip search 

  Gülsün Altan, wife of arrested journalist Serdar Altan and herself a journalist, said that she was subjected to strip search during a prison visit in Diyarbakır High Security Prison No. 2.
• KDP deports Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink from South Kurdistan 

  Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink has been prevented from entering the autonomous region of north-eastern Syria and is being deported from Hewlêr as "persona non grata". "Erdoğan's arm is long," says Geerdink.
• NWU in solidarity with Kurdish journalists in the face of recent attacks from Erdogan regime 

  “As writers, freelancers and journalists in the US, we fight for transparency and press freedom and declare our full solidarity with Kurdish journalists,” said the National Writers Union.
• Letter from jailed Xwebûn Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Ali Ertaş to Hüseyin Aykol confiscated 

  A letter to Hüseyin Aykol by jailed Xwebûn newspaper's Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Ali Ertaş was confiscated because of Aykol's writings for Yeni Yaşam newspaper.
• Diyarbakir 5th Criminal Court of Peace rules to keep Kurdish journalists in prison 

  Diyarbakir 5th Criminal Court of Peace decided to keep 16 Kurdish journalists who were arrested on 16 June in prison, following the monthly detention evaluation.
• Women journalists in prison send message: Solidarity makes us strong 

  The women journalists sent to prison along with 12 of their friends on 16 June, said that they were in good morale and were motivated in a message they sent.
• Kurdish production companies in Amed under police siege for a month 

  The Piya and Ari production companies in Amed (Diyarbakır) have been besieged by police for a month now.
• Association awards imprisoned journalists in the person of those jailed in Amed 

  “The award goes to all journalists who are prevented from doing their jobs and jailed journalists in the persons of 16 Kurdish journalists who were recently imprisoned,” said the Journalists Association of Turkey.
• 12 journalists transferred to Diyarbakır High Security Prisons No. 1 and 2 

  12 of the 16 journalists who remained in Diyarbakır D Type Closed Prison after their arrest were transferred to Diyarbakır High Security Prisons No. 1 and 2.
• Two detained in police attack on journalists' protest in Ankara 

  Two media workers were detained in a police attack on a rally of the Dicle Firat Journalists' Association and the Mesopotamian Women Journalists' Platform in Ankara.
• Kurdish production companies in Amed under police siege for 27 days 

  The Piya and Ari production companies in Amed (Diyarbakır) have been besieged by police for 27 days.
• Jailed journalist Oruç: Government sends a message to the West through Kurdish journalists 

  Aziz Oruç, one of the journalists arrested in Diyarbakır, said that they were arrested for their journalistic activities, adding, “The government sends a message to the West with this operation against the Kurds and Kurdish journalists.”
• Prison administration seizes letters to and from journalist Ömer Çelik  

  The letter that Ömer Çelik sent to his colleague was considered "encrypted communication", while a letter sent to him was considered to "endanger public order and officials of the institution". Both were seized.
• RSF urges Turkey to end police violence against journalists 

  RSF called on the Interior Ministry to respect journalists covering demonstrations.
• CPJ condemns the prison sentence against Kurdish journalist 

  CPJ criticised the prison sentence against journalist Abdurrahman Gök who was found guilty on terrorism charge, calling on Turkey to stop pursuing trumped-up terrorism cases against members of the press.
• Censorship at work: access to webpages of Voice of America and Deutsche Welle blocked 

  Access to the webpages of Voice of America and Deutsche Welle has been blocked due to the two outlets' failure to apply to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) for a license.
• Ipekçi: No free society without free press 

  Lawyer Ercan İpekçi said that the partially free press in Turkey will be stifled by the new disinformation law and added “there is no free society if there is no free press”.
• Lawyers hold Justice Vigil for the 16 journalists remanded in prison in Amed  

  Lawyers held their Justice Vigil this week for the 16 journalists remanded in custody in Amed on 16 June.
• Journalist Abdurrahman Gök sentenced to one and a half years in prison 

  Journalist Abdurrahman Gök has been sentenced to one and a half years in prison in Amed for "terror propaganda". Among other things, he was charged with taking photos of the fight against ISIS in Kobanê.
• 16 Kurdish journalists arrested in Amed see their right to family visit violated 

  It has been revealed that the family visit rights the 16 Kurdish journalists unlawfully detained in Amed are entitled to have been restricted. Hülya Oruç, wife of journalist Aziz Oruç, drew attention to the fact that they could only meet for 20 minutes.