FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Reactions to the attack on free press: You cannot silence the truth! 

  Reactions to the police operations against free press employees continue. Parties and organisations said, "You will not be able to silence the voice of truth. These operations are an attack on the people's right to information."
• Stêrk TV's lawyer: A dark raid! 

  The lawyer of Stêrk TV, one of the Kurdish TV channels that was subjected to a police raid in Denderleeuw, Belgium, stated that it was a "dark raid".
• KON-MED calls on Belgian authorities to abandon anti-democratic methods 

  The Confederation of Kurdistan Societies in Germany condemned the Belgian police raids on Kurdish television channels Stêrk TV and Medya Haber and called on the Belgian authorities to abandon these anti-democratic methods.
• Sterk and Medya News TV workers: No power will be able to silence us in this task 

  "As employees of the Kurdish media, we are here and we will continue to be the voice of our people,” said employees of the Kurdish media after the police raids on Kurdish TV channels in Belgium.
• European Culture and Art Workers condemn raids on Stêrk TV and Medya Haber TV studios  

  European Culture and Art Workers condemned the raids on Stêrk TV and Medya Haber TV studios and called on everyone to" defend our will and the press institutions that are our voice."
• Stêrk and Medya Haber TV Advisory Board condemns raids in Belgium 

  Stêrk and Medya Haber TV Advisory Board condemned the raid by the Belgian police on television studios and said: "We call on our people to go to the places where the televisions are located to stop this unlawful and illegal raid."
• Scores of Free Press journalists taken into custody in Istanbul and Ankara 

  Many Free Press employees were detained within the scope of the political genocide operation carried out in Istanbul and Ankara.
• Belgian police target Kurdish channels Stêrk TV and Medya Haber TV 

  During the night, Belgian police stormed the studios of Stêrk TV and Medya Haber TV in Denderleeuw near Brussels. The Kurdish broadcasters were literally sabotaged by cutting cables and confiscating technology.
• Police in Belgium storm studios of Stêrk TV and Medya Haber 

  A police raid was carried out on the studios of Stêrk TV and Medya Haber TV in Belgium.
• YRA salutes Kurdish Journalism Day 

  YRA commemorated the martyrs of the free press and said, "Our comrades sacrificed their lives for the sake of truth. Thanks to their sacrifices, we have a strong foundation in the struggle for freedom."
• Today is Kurdish Journalism Day 

  22 April, the date on which the first issue of the Kurdistan newspaper was published, in 1898, is celebrated as Kurdish Journalists Day.
• JINNEWS journalist Gültekin acquitted  

  JINNEWS journalist Rozerin Gültekin was detained while following news in Bursa. She was acquitted in the case where she was tried on the charge of "violating the law on meetings and marches".
• Kurdish journalist Yalçın fined for allegedly damaging bars of his cell 

  Kurdish journalist Hakan Yalçın has been sentenced to prison and fined for allegedly damaging the window bars of his cell in a high-security prison in Ankara.
• Still no news of Rojnews editor Silêman Ehmed in KDP custody for 175 days 

  It has been 175 days since Rojnews editor Silêman Ehmed was detained by KDP-affiliated forces.
• Journalist Dilan Oyunş released  

  Journalist Dilan Oyunş, whose release was postponed five times, was released from Sincan Prison.
• MKG report: Pressure and attacks on women journalists continue 

  According to MKG's report for the month of March, 2 women journalists were detained, 3 were subjected to ill-treatment and 1 was threatened. While 10 journalists are still on trial, 7 women journalists are in prison.
• 165 days in custody and still no news of journalist Silêman Ehmed 

  It has been 165 days since Rojnews editor Silêman Ehmed was detained by KDP-affiliated forces.
• DFG and MKG call for the release of detained journalists 

  DFG and MKG called on the government and the law enforcement forces under its command to stop attacks against journalists and ensure their safety.
• DFG condemns police attacks on journalists during protests against the AKP's election coup 

  Denouncing the brutal attacks on journalists during protests following the election coup in Van, Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association condemned the attacks against the people's right to information.
• MLSA tells Council of Europe that at least 28 Kurdish events have been canceled 

  According to MLSA, since 2019, at least 28 Kurdish events have been banned in 16 cities across Turkey for various reasons.
• Access to Mezopotamya Agency blocked by court 

  Access to Mezopotamya Agency was blocked by Erzurum 1st Criminal Court of Peace.
• Still no news of Rojnews editor Silêman Ehmed in KDP custody for 138 days 

  It has been 138 days since Rojnews editor Silêman Ehmed was detained by KDP-affiliated forces.
• Documentary filmmaker Tekin acquitted  

  Documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin has been acquitted of charges of membership in an armed terrorist organization. She was charged with filming a police van.
• Rojnews editor Silêman Ehmed in KDP custody for 133 days 

  It has been 133 days since Rojnews editor Silêman Ehmed was detained by KDP-affiliated forces.
• DFG: 42 journalists are behind bars in Turkey 

  According to DFG's February report, 42 journalists are in prison in Turkey.