FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Police take 4 journalists into custody, raid 2 production companies 

  Four journalists were taken into custody in Van and in Istanbul. Martı Productions and Güncel Productions raided in Beyoğlu.
• DFG: We don’t celebrate 'Working Journalists’ Day' but fight to remove the obstacles against truth 

  DFG calls on all journalists who struggle without compromising the truth to fight until they can celebrate 10 January Working Journalists’ Day.
• Three female journalists transferred to Marmara Closed Prison 

  Imprisoned journalists Pınar Gayıp, Gülistan Dursun and Serpil Ünal were deported from Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison to Marmara Closed Prison.
• Access to 7 socialist news websites blocked  

  Restrictions against the opposition media outlets in Turkey continue unabated.
• MKG: 30 women journalists assaulted in 2024, 8 sent to prison 

  The Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) shared its report on rights violations against women journalists throughout 2024 with the public during a press conference held at the association's headquarters.
• Court of Appeals in South Kurdistan rules to release RojNews editor Süleyman Ahmet 

  Court of Appeals in South Kurdistan ruled to release RojNews editor Süleyman Ahmet, who was sentenced to three years in prison.
• Journalists tell of the attacks against Shehba and the resistance of the peple of Afrin - Part Two 

  While the HTS attacked the Assad regime, Turkish state-backed gangs attacked Shehba. Then on 1 December, people were forced to flee Shehba for security reasons. Journalist Roj Deniz talked about the resistance she witnessed.
• DFG report: 118 journalists detained, 26 imprisoned in Turkey in 2024 

  According to the DFG report for 2024, 118 journalists were detained, 26 were imprisoned and dozens were sentenced to prison. On the other hand, access to thousands of news items was blocked.
• Journalists tell of the attacks against Shehba and the resistance of the peple of Afrin 

  Journalists covering the attacks by the SNA militias against Shehba and Tel Rifaat also witnessed the resistance put up by people.
• Metro Center calls for a united stand against the closure of Gezengy Barbayan 

  The Metro Center for Journalist Rights & Advocacy stated that the closure of the Gezengy Barbayan Production Company was a political decision and called for a united stand to be taken.
• MKG: You cannot silence the voice of women journalists! 

  Condemning the closure of Kompanya Gizingî Berbeyan media production company, MKG said, “You cannot silence the voices of women journalists. Our struggle for truth will continue.”
• Media production company Gizinge Berbeyan protests closure order 

  Media production company Gizinge Berbeyan protested the decision to close its center, saying it was a violation of press freedom and women's rights.
• 122 journalists and media workers killed in 2024, says the IFJ 

  The IFJ deplores 2024 as one of the deadliest years for journalists and reiterates its determination to see an International Convention for the Protection of Journalists adopted by the United Nations as a matter of urgency.
• Amnesty International protests arrest of journalists in Turkey  

  Amnesty International protested the killing of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin and the arrest of journalists in Turkey, calling for their immediate release.
• Access to Mezopotamya Agency and Yeni Yaşam websites blocked 

  The websites of Mezopotamya Agency and Yeni Yaşam newspaper were blocked by court decisions.
• Italian journalist arrested in Iran 

  Italian journalist Cecilia Sala taken in by police while reporting in Tehran, said Italy’s foreign ministry.
• Dicle Fırat Journalists Association announces legal report for 2024 

  In 2024, the DFG provided legal support to 152 journalists and followed the trials of dozens of journalists.
• Boltan: Journalists Bilgin and Dastan were deliberately targeted 

  Basin-Is Amed representative Boltan said that journalists Bilgin and Dastan were deliberately killed, and added that those responsible must be brought to justice.
• Police take Yeni Yaşam newspaper worker into custody in Batman 

  Yeni Yaşam newspaper worker Veysi Akören was taken into custody in Batman.
• DFG, MKG and human rights advocates call for the release of imprisoned journalists 

  DFG, MKG and human rights advocates called for the release of 9 people, including 7 journalists, who were imprisoned in Istanbul for protesting the killing of colleagues Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in Rojava.
• Mahmut Oral: Journalists Daştan and Bilgin were deliberately targeted 

  Mahmut Oral from the Turkish Journalists Union said that Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were deliberately targeted. He criticized Turkey for trying to legitimize their murder by criminalizing the journalists through its official statements.
• Ferhat Koçak: Turkish state commits crimes in Rojava 

  Berlin State Parliament member Ferhat Koçak condemned the killings of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, and said that Turkey is committing crimes in Rojava.
• Journalist Sağlam: Our pen is stronger than any arrest and threat! 

  Journalist Mahsun Sağlam, who was detained at a protest about the murder of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, said: “Our pen is stronger than any arrest and threat."
• CPJ urges Turkey to release the jailed journalists and allow the media to report freely 

  Seven critical journalists have recently been imprisoned in Istanbul for protesting against the killing of their colleagues Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in a targeted Turkish drone attack in northern Syria. The CPJ calls for their immediate release.
• DAANES calls for international protection of journalists from the brutality of the Turkish state 

  DAANES calls on the UN and the international community to take serious steps to ensure the protection of journalists from the brutality of the Turkish state.