DİYARBAKIR- DFG manager Hakkı Boltan stated that 87 journalists welcomed the new year in prison. MKGP Spokesperson Roza Metina wanted the society to protect journalists.

 

According to the data of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), 87 journalists welcome the new year in prison. While the pressure on the press deepened with the "censorship law", detentions and arrests, especially against the Free Press, continued in 2022. 16 journalists were arrested in Diyarbakır on June 16 and the indictment against them has not been prepared for more than 6 months. On October 28, 9 of 11 journalists detained as part of the Ankara-based investigation were arrested.

 

DFG Manager Hakkı Boltan and Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform (MKGP) Spokesperson Roza Metina evaluated the pressures on journalists who were on the agenda throughout 2022.

 

'FREE PRESS WORKERS FACE OPPRESSION AND VIOLENCE EVERY DAY'

 

Stating that the pressure on journalists increased in 2022, DFG Director Hakkı Boltan emphasized that 87 journalists welcomed the new year in prison. Boltan said: "Journalists face oppression and violence every day. The government does not want the Free Press, which reports on democracy and human rights, and attacks it. Journalists' homes are raided, they are arrested even though there is nothing against them. It is aimed to intimidate the journalists who expose the crimes of the government with this method. Attacking journalists is a classic policy in Turkey."

 

Stating that the mainstream media has remained persistently silent about the pressure and violence against Kurdish journalists, Boltan said: “They approach according to the interests of the institutions, they do not want to spoil their relations with the state. They say, 'If we support the Free Press, the state will not support us with advertisements'. But in those last years, the Free Press has influenced the Turkish and world press with its activities and stance against the authorities and has received support in this context. There were harsh reactions to the pressures on the Free Press in the international arena. Many international institutions and organizations also visited DFG and made statements here. In addition, the journalistic institutions in many countries showed their stance against the arrest of journalists with their statements.

 

'THE GREATEST SUPPORT TO IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS IS TO REVEAL THE TRUTH'

 

Stating that the biggest support given to imprisoned journalists is to reveal the truth, Boltan said: "For solidarity, journalists outside should report like journalists in prison. This solidarity is both the right to receive information and support for journalists who report. A journalist working day and night to reveal the truth will be the greatest support to imprisoned journalists and a great response to the government. We need to do this for the martyred Musa Anter, Gurbetelli Ersöz and their friends."

 

161 VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS  

 

Reminding that the attacks against the Free Press are not new, Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform (MKGP) Spokesperson Roza Metina said: "These pressures have increased especially in recent years. The AKP-MHP government is attacking the Free Press in order to control the society and not report news. There is an election and the government is attacking to win the election. At the same time, there is an attack on the will of the Kurdish people and women. Women journalists are subjected to sexist attacks and violence on the ground. According to MKGP data, 17 women journalists are in prison. In the first 7 months of 2022, there are women journalists. There were 161 violations of rights against the government. The current government wants to put all the media under its shadow with these attacks. Currently, 90 percent of the media in Turkey is under the control of the government. It attacks the Free Press to hide its corruption. There is an economic crisis, but despite this crisis, the current government allocates money to war, no budget is allocated to women and society.Another reason for the attack is to hide the economic crisis. They attack the Free Press to change the agenda. Even in prisons, journalists face violations of their rights; however, the struggle of journalists against these attacks continues."

 

NO INDICTMENTS FOR 6 MONTHS

 

Metina then said the following regarding the 16 journalists who have been imprisoned for 6 months and whose indictments have not been prepared: "Even though 6 months have passed, no indictment has been prepared against them. We launched the 'One more news article from you' campaign against the arrest of journalists, and many people supported this campaign. In addition, MKGP supported the journalists. Society should protect journalists. Journalists protect the society's right to report, so journalism cannot be prosecuted. We continue to bring the truth to the public against oppression. We will build the freedom of the press in 2023."