FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Journalist Selamet Turan detained in Cizre 

  The Turkish regime's repression against the Kurdish press continues unabated.
• Journalist Kibriye Evren taken into custody  

  Journalist Kibriye Evren was taken into custody during a police raid on her house as part of a new police political operation.
• Journalist detained in Hewlêr 

  The "Standard Kurd" reporter Dyako Husen was detained in Hewlêr on the fringes of a protest by the Kurdish Communist Party against the government. The METRO Centre for the Protection of Journalists' Rights is calling for his immediate release.
• MKG: Nine women journalists in prison in January 

  According to the MKG's ‘January 2024 Report on Rights Violations against Women Journalists’, 9 female journalists are in prison while the trial of 18 journalists continues.
• Journalist Ehmed: 100 days incommunicado 

  Journalist Silêman Ehmed was abducted by the KDP security forces in South Kurdistan 100 days ago.
• Journalist Alağaş released 

  JINNEWS editor-in-chief Sofya Alağaş was released.
• Journalist Altıntaş taken into custody again 

  Journalist Mahmut Altıntaş, who was arrested on Saturday on terrorism charges, was taken into custody again because he allegedly hit several police officers while handcuffed.
• JINNEWS editor-in-chief Alağaş taken into custody  

  JINNEWS editor-in-chief Safiye Alağaş was taken into custody while she was going from Siirt to Amed by car.
• Imprisoned journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu goes on hunger strike: I raise my voice against silence 

  Dicle Müftüoğlu, co-chair of Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and editor of Mezopotamya Agency (MA), started a hunger strike in Sincan Women's Closed Prison.
• MA journalist Altıntaş taken into custody in Adiyaman 

  MA journalist Mahmut Altıntaş was taken into custody while reporting news in Adiyaman.
• Journalist Ahmet Ayva arrested  

  Journalist Ahmet Ayva was arrested and taken to Silivri prison after the 3.5-year prison sentence given for "propaganda for a terrorist organization" was confirmed.
• Journalist Aygül attacked by AKP mayor's bodyguards sentenced to prison 

  Sinan Aygül, an investigative journalist who specializes in exposing corruption in the AKP municipality of Tatvan in the province of Bitlis, was the victim of a violent attack in June 2023 and was sentenced to prison.
• 90 days without news from the RojNews editor abducted by the KDP forces 

  Journalist Silêman Ehmed was abducted by the KDP forces three months ago and has not been heard from since.
• 62 violations of rights against 128 journalists and press organisations recorded in KRI in 2023 

  Kurdistan Journalists' Syndicate announced that 128 journalists and press organisations were subjected to rights violations during 2023.
• Press organisations denounce the court decision to keep journalist Müftüoğlu in prison  

  Press organisations made a statement in front of the courthouse after the trial of journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu and said they do not recognise the court's decision to keep their colleague in prison.
• Journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu not released from prison 

  Kurdish journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu, an editor of the Mezopotamya news agency (MA), who has been behind bars since May 2023, will remain in prison, ruled a Turkish criminal court in Amed (tr. Diyarbakır) in a hearing held on Thursday.
• International Women’s Media Foundation welcomes release on bail of journalists Hamedi and Mohammadi 

  International Women’s Media Foundation
• Journalists Ilahe Mohammadi and Niloufer Hamidi released on bail 

  Ilahe Mohammadi and Niloufer Hamidi, the two journalists who reported on the murder of Jina Amini, were released after 17 months by paying a bail fee.
• 6 women journalists on trial: We will continue to defend our Kurdish colleagues 

  6 women journalists, who are on trial for protesting against the operations against free press workers, denounced the police violence they were subjected to and said, "We will continue to defend Kurdish journalists."
• Journalist Metin Göktepe, murdered 28 years ago, commemorated 

  Metin Göktepe was commemorated at his grave in Istanbul. The journalist, who worked for the left-wing newspaper Evrensel, was only 27 years old when he was beaten to death by Turkish police officers on January 8, 1996.
• DFG report for 2023: 280 journalists stood trial, 57 journalists remain in prison in Turkey 

  According to the Dicle Firat Journalists' Association, which presented a report in Amed on the violation of the rights of media professionals in the past year, 57 journalists remain in prison in Turkey.
• 71 days without news from RojNews editor Ahmed  

  There has been no news from RojNews editor Silêman Ahmed for 71 days.
• MA journalist Yalçın held in custody in Malatya for three days 

  MA journalist Hakan Yalçın has been held in custody in Malatya for three days.
• Journalist Karabay sent to prison  

  Gerçek Gündem editor Furkan Karabay, who was taken into custody again on Friday, was sent to prison by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace to which he was referred.
• RojNews turns to the UN for its editor abducted by the KDP two months ago 

  Journalist Silêman Ehmed was abducted by the KDP secret service in southern Kurdistan two months ago. The RojNews agency has turned to the UN for support in finding out his whereabouts.