FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Kurdish journalist sentenced to life imprisonment in Turkey 

  Journalist Rojhat Doğru has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Amed for separatism and attempted murder. The background is his film reports on the Kobanê protests and from Qandil.
• Journalists acquitted in "Helicopter Torture" trial 

  Journalists Adnan Bilen, Zeynep Durgut, Cemil Uğur, Nazan Sala and Şehriban Abi, who were accused of "anti-state reporting" in the case of the so-called “helicopter torture” in Van, have been acquitted.
• New hearing in Van of 'Helicopter torture' trial against 5 journalists  

  The hearing of 5 journalists on trial in the so called ‘helicopter torture’ case was held. Nazan Sala was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison.
• Journalist Ferhat Çelik detained again 

  MA editor Ferhat Çelik was interrogated by the prosecution and released after his detention in Istanbul on Tuesday. Immediately after his release, he was detained again for reasons unknown so far.
• Police detain Mezopotamya Agency editor-in-chief Ferhat Çelik 

  Mezopotamya Agency editor-in-chief, Ferhat Çelik, was detained by the Turkish police, who came to his house, on the grounds of an investigation launched against him.
• DFG 2021 Report: 62 journalists behind bars in Turkey 

  A new report released by Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) reveals that out of the 55 journalists attacked in 2021, 2 lost their lives. Dozens of lawsuits were filed against journalists and 62 remained behind bars last year.
• 67 journalists appeared in court in December  

  According to the Journalists' Association's Report on the Cost of News, 67 journalists and media workers appeared before the judge, with a total request of 412 to 1,334 years in prison.
• KDP forces raid journalist ceremony in Duhok 

  According to reports, KDP forces attacked the Gorran Movement office in Duhok, Southern Kurdistan, during a journalist award event.
• Eighteen journalists acquitted in 'Özgür Gündem newspaper' case 

  Journalists were charged with "preventing public officials from performing their duties" int he case filed after a 2016 raid on the now-shuttered newspaper.
• RSF says 488 journalists are in prisons around the world 

  According to Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF), a record number of journalists – 488, including 60 women – are currently detained worldwide, while another 65 are being held hostage.
• Hundreds gather at solidarity night for Yeni Özgür Politika in London 

  Hundreds of people gathered at the solidarity night held in London for Yeni Özgür Politika.
• CFWIJ calls for an end to violence against women journalists 

  Hostilities against women journalists were also prevalent in the virtual realm, with at least 89 of them being targeted by organized trolling and slander campaigns on social media.
• Number of journalists jailed around the world set another record in 2021, says CPJ 

  It’s been an especially bleak year for defenders of press freedom. CPJ’s 2021 prison census found that the number of reporters jailed for their work hit a new global record of 293, up from a revised total of 280 in 2020.
• DFG’s November report: Detention, violence, penalties... 

  DFG stated that six journalists were detained in November, and 136 of them were put on trial.
• Remembering the attack against Özgür Ülke Newspaper 27 years ago  

  On the night between 2 and 3 December, a bomb targeted the Özgür Ülke Newspaper building. A protest will be held in Istanbul Kadırga tomorrow, the 27th anniversary of the attack.
• 111 journalists under trial in November 

  It was announced that 111 journalists were tried in November, and a prison sentence was handed down.
• Germany demands and obtains ban of UK journalist writing about Rojava from all Schengen countries 

  British journalist Matt Broomfield was banned from entering Schengen member countries on the grounds that he supported the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria. The request came from Germany.
• Internal Security Forces in Sulaymaniyah release 4 journalists detained on Thursday 

  Four journalists detained in Sulaymaniyah were released in exchange for 2 million Iraqi dinars.
• Four journalists detained during protests in Sulaymaniyah 

  Four journalists were taken into custody during the student protests in Sulaymaniyah in southern Kurdistan.
• Journalist Emrullah Acar released after six days in custody 

  After six days in police custody, MA correspondent Emrullah Acar has been released in Malatya. The journalist announced that he will continue his work for MA and continue to report the truth.
• Prison sentence for journalist Nurcan Yalçın 

  Journalist Nurcan Yalçın was sentenced to nearly four years in prison and banned from leaving the country. She is accused of "membership in a terrorist organization" and "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization."
• DFG: The government wants to prevent journalism 

  Emphasizing that the government is trying to prevent journalism in the person of Emrullah Acar and Hikmet Tunç, the DFG gave the message that "We are not afraid."
• Police raid house of Jin News reporter Hikmet Tunç 

  Police raided the house of Jin News reporter Hikmet Tunç.
• Police detain Mezopotamya Agency journalist Emrullah Acar - UPDATE 

  Mezopotamya Agency journalist Emrullah Acar was detained as a result of the political genocide operation. Another person, Hivda Sarılmaz, was taken into custody in Bingöl.
• Taliban kidnap Kurdish photojournalist Ebrahim Alipoor in Kabul 

  Kurdish photojournalist Ebrahim Alipoor was kidnapped by the Taliban in the Afghan capital Kabul.