FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• 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.
• Journalist Balıkçı says 'Disinformation Law' is biggest censorship law in the history of Turkey 

  Journalist Faruk Balıkçı said that they are facing the biggest censorship law in the history of Turkey: “Prisons will be filled with journalists, and more people will leave the profession should this law be approved."
• Journalists in Sulaymaniyah: Turkey has turned into a dark prison for journalists 

  Journalists in Sulaymaniyah condemned the Turkish government’s crackdown and arrest of journalists in Amed, North Kurdistan, remarking that Turkey has turned into a dark prison for journalists.
• Jailed journalist Alağaş: No persecution can break our pen 

  “It should be known that no oppression and persecution will be able to break a journalist woman's pen,” JINNEWS News Director Safiye Alağaş, who is one of the 16 Kurdish journalists arrested in Amed, said in a message.
• MSLA co-director Veysel Ok says 'censorship law' will affect everyone 

  MSLA co-director Veysel Ok said that the 'censorship law' that came to the Parliament will affect not only journalists but everyone.
• FIDH and OMCT call for immediate and unconditional release of journalists detained in Amed 

  The FIDH and the OMCT condemn the violation of journalists' right to freedom of press and expression and call for the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists detained in Amed.
• 15 journalists and one media worker in prison in Diyarbakır must be released, says PEN 

  PEN International said that 15 journalists and one media worker held in pre-trial detention in Diyarbakır must be immediately released.
• Jailed journalist from Behdinan receives punishment for criticizing Barzani 

  The Erbil Criminal Court sentenced five journalists and activists from Behdinan to six years in prison in February 2021, following an unfair trial, based on trumped-up charges of “destabilizing the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq."
• Journalists demonstrate in solidarity with arrested Kurdish colleagues 

  Journalists in Istanbul protested the arrest of the Kurdish colleagues in Diyarbakir, insisting that “We will not remain silent.”
• Nujiyan documentary shown in Qamishlo 

  The documentary Nujiyan about the struggle of the martyr journalist Nujiyan Erhan was shown at the Mihemed Şêxo Culture and Art Center in Qamishlo.
• Kurdish production companies under police siege for a fortnight 

  The Piya and Ari production companies in Amed (Diyarbakır) have been besieged by police for a fortnight, as apparently the search continues. The public prosecutor's office does not give any information about the reason for the measure.
• Journalists and trade unions in Istanbul protest law against disinformation and fake news 

  In Istanbul, journalists and trade unions protested the law against disinformation and fake news planned by the Turkish governing coalition. The draft was described as a new censorship law.
• European Federation of Journalists condemns arrest of journalists in Amed  

  EFJ said they stand in solidarity with all Kurdish media workers currently in prison for doing their job and urge for the immediate release of all of them.
• 16 institutions in Urfa condemn arrest of 16 journalists in Amed 

  16 institutions in Urfa made a joint statement to condemn the arrest of 16 journalists in Amed and called for the journalists to be released as soon as possible.
• Kurdish press will continue to work and speak out! 

  Almost in complete silence, 16 journalists have been sent to prison in Turkey as suspected terrorists. MA editor Sedat Yilmaz explains that the Kurdish media continue their work despite the repression.
• DFG co-chair Serdar Altan sends a message from prison 

  DFG co-chair Serdar Altan, one of the 16 journalists arrested in Amed, drew attention to the importance of solidarity and said: "It is necessary to be determined to make this rising voice louder. Because solidarity is important."
• DİSK Press organises journalists march from Ankara to Amed  

  DİSK Press organised a march from Ankara to Amed attended by many journalists to show solidarity with their arrested colleagues.
• CPJ calls for the immediate release of Kurdish journalists jailed in Amed 

  “Turkish authorities should immediately release the journalists who were arrested in Diyarbakır for no apparent reason,” Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator said.
• 16 journalists sent to prison 

  16 journalists out of 22 people detained in Amed on 8 June were sent to prison.
• JinNews editor Gülşen Koçuk released 

  JinNews editor Gülşen Koçuk, who was arrested in Amed a week ago, has been released.
• Journalists protest outside courthouse: “You cannot silence the free press” 

  Journalists made a statement in front of Diyarbakır Courthouse to express their solidarity with 20 colleagues who were referred to court after 8 days in detention.
• Civil society organisations urge solidarity with detained Kurdish journalists 

  Civil society organizations in Amed (Diyarbakir) condemned the recent detention of the Kurdish journalists, urging the public to show solidarity with them.
• French unions call for the release of journalists detained in Amed 

  The French Union Syndicale Solidaires, the National Union of Journalists (SNJ) and the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggles (LabourSolidarity) released a joint statement expressing support for the Kurdish journalists in custody.
• Journalists protest crackdown on Kurdish colleagues in Amed 

  The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association and the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform protested the detention of their colleagues, saying that “The crackdown on journalist will give no result and we will continue to be the voice of the truth."
• Journalists detained in Amed: We are entering the process of fabricating evidence 

  Journalists detained in Amed since 8 June said that this process had begun to "evolve into the process of fabricating evidence".