FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Academic in solidarity with Özgür Gündem newspaper sentenced to prison 

  Academic Beyza Üstün, who participated in Özgür Gündem newspaper's ‘Editor-in-Chief on Watch’ campaign, was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison.
• KCK Press Trial against 46 press members adjourned 

  The 32nd hearing of the KCK Press Trial, in which the Turkish judicial system targeted 46 press members, was held in Istanbul. The hearing was adjourned to January.
• DFG: Pressure on the press increased, judiciary turned into a cudgel against journalists in Turkey 

  Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association (DFG) reported that 5 journalists were detained, 2 were imprisoned, 4 were threatened and 6 were subject to lawsuits in September.
• Ok: Kurdish media becomes a target in line with the deadlock in the Kurdish question 

  MLSA Co-Director Veysel Ok said, “Kurdish media is banned the most as a result of the deadlock in the Kurdish issue. As the Kurdish question is tried to be suppressed with violence, the Kurdish media is the first target.”
• Kurdish media most affected by internet bans in Turkey 

  Bans on the Kurdish and socialist press form the basis of internet censorship. According to the censorship report, ANF ranks first among the Kurdish press websites that have been subjected to the most censorship until 2023.
• Lawsuit against journalist Irfan Uçar  

  A lawsuit was filed against journalist Irfan Uçar on the grounds of his professional activities.
• ROJIN: Journalist Rabia Önver is not alone 

  ROJIN condemned the raid on journalist Rabia Önver’s house following her report on prostitution and drugs, and said: "Rabia, who has done brave reporting, is not alone. Do not try journalists, but criminals."
• Prosecutor's office doesn't take statement by journalist Rabia Önver 

  Journalist Rabia Önver appeared in the courthouse in Hakkari accompanied by her lawyer. The investigating public prosecutor declined to hold a hearing and apparently no arrest would be made.
• New misleading accusation against Kurdish journalist Rabia Önver 

  Kurdish journalist Rabia Önver has become a target of the judiciary after reporting on state involvement in prostitution and drug trafficking in Hakkari.
• DEM Women's Council protests arrest warrant issued against journalist Rabia Önver 

  Kurdish journalist Rabia Önver is wanted in Turkey because she exposed the state's involvement in criminal activities. The DEM Women's Council points out the public's right to information.
• Turkish police raid house of journalist Rabia Önver  

  The Turkish police is searching for journalist Rabia Önver following a JinNews report on state involvement in prostitution and drug trafficking in Hakkari. Her apartment was raided and searched for hours.
• 32 years ago, the killing of Musa Anter 

  Musa Anter, a prominent Kurdish writer for the daily Özgür Gündem and the weekly Yeni Ülke, was shot and killed in Diyarbakır on 20 September 1992.
• Amed Municipality grants free public transport to journalists 

  Journalists working for both national and local media outlets will be able to travel on the municipality of Amed’s public transport network free of charge.
• PEN Sydney strongly condemns the killing of two female journalists in Turkish attack in Sulaymaniyah 

  PEN Sydney released a statement condemning the assassination of two Kurdish journalists in a Turkish drone attack in Sulaymaniyah.
• Kurdish journalists protest in front of the Embassy of Iraq in Brussels 

  Free press workers gathered in front of the Embassy of Iraq in Brussels upon the call of the Kurdistan Women Journalists Union (ROJIN) to condemn the occupying Turkish state’s attacks against journalists and demanded accountability.
• MKG: Journalists were subjected to continued repression and attacks in August 

  MKG announced the rights violations against journalists in August. Accordingly, 2 journalists were murdered, 1 journalist was attacked, 15 journalists were ill-treated, and 1 journalist was prosecuted.
• Family of Gulistan Tara killed by Turkey in Sulaymaniyah visits women journalists 

  The family of journalist Gulistan Tara, who was murdered by the Turkish state in Sulaymaniyah, visited Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association.
• Journalist Gulistan Tara laid to rest in Batman 

  Gulistan Tara, one of the two Free Media workers killed by the Turkish state, was laid to rest in her hometown of Batman.
• NUJ urges immediate investigation into deaths of journalists Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin 

  The National Union of Journalists condemned the killings of journalists Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin, killed on 23 August.
• Indictment against journalist Zeynep Kuray accepted 

  Journalist Zeynep Kuray is facing another trial in Turkey. The Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office accused her of propaganda for organizations close to the PKK in connection with her journalistic work.
• YRA Co-Chair: Kurdish journalists who expose Turkey’s dirty policies cannot be stopped 

  The Free Press Union (YRA) Co-Chair Dilyar Cizîrî stated that 27 press members were martyred in Rojava alone and that journalists who expose the dirty policies of the Turkish state cannot be stopped.
• Turkish invaders arrest Syrian journalist working for AFP in al-Bab city 

  Bakr Qassem and his wife Nabiha Taha, both of whom work as journalists for local and international agencies, were stopped and beaten by members of the Turkish intelligence service stationed in al-Bab city centre.
• Women journalists in South Kurdistan: Turkish occupiers fear the power of women 

  Women journalists from South Kurdistan said that the Turkish invaders are afraid of the power of women.
• TEV-ÇAND: The Turkish state is killing Kurds with the help of the Barzani family 

  TEV-ÇAND Europe said in a statement that "free media workers Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn were murdered in a vile attack by the collaborationist and traitorous Barzani family. We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice to achieve their goals."
• Hewlêr Reporters Organisation: The killing of journalists is against international laws 

  Hewlêr Reporters' Organisation said that the killings of journalists in and outside the Kurdistan Region continue and called on international organisations to put pressure on Iraq's neighbouring countries to keep the war away from civilians.