Responding to the detention of Dicle News Agency (DIHA) employees Kadri Kaya and Erdogan Altan under an operation, IHD Diyarbakir Branch Secretary Raci Bilici told the governorate's statement clearly show that DIHA employees were detained for journalistic activities. Bilici said; "Now, Prime Minister Erdogan must be asked about his statements saying that journalists in Turkey are not detained or arrested for their journalistic activities and there is a freedom of the press in our country”.

IHD Diyarbakir Branch held a press conference regarding the detention of Dicle News Agency Regional Representative Kadri Kaya and Batman correspondent Erdogan Altan who had been taken into custody with an operation carried out by Batman Provincial Gendarmerie Command. The press conference at the branch building was attended by IHD Diyarbakir Branch Secretary Raci Bilici, Branch Administrators Necibe Günes Perincek, Emin Ermin and Hüseyin F. Mavigök as well as DIHA, Azadiya Welat, Günlük and Gün TV employees in Diyarbakýr.

Reading the press statement, IHD Diyarbakir Branch Secretary Raci Bilici reminded that it has been two years since the beginning of the extensive operation against Kurdish politicians and human rights defenders. Bilici said; “In this two-year period, more than 2000 people were arrested because of their completely peaceful, legitimate and democratic activities. The intolerance against the ‘opponent’ has now exceeded beyond depriving everyone using legitimate and democratic rights of their freedoms”.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil