PIRHA reporter Berk: We will not kneel

2022-03-12 11:59:45


	DERSİM - Cihan Berk, who condemned the access barrier to PIRHA said that they would not kneel against pressures and obstructions and that they would continue to report news to the public as a tradition of free press.

	 

	Hatay 1st Criminal Court of Peace imposed an access barrier to Pir News Agency (PIRHA) on March 9 without giving any reason. PIRHA, which started its broadcasting life in 2016, is the first news agency of Alevis. The access block with the decision no. 1028 drew a great reaction from the Alevi community. PIRHA Dersim reporter Cihan Berk said that the access block to pirha.net is a continuation of the attacks against the free press tradition.

	 

	'WE CONTINUE TO REPORT'

	 

	Stating that the court did not provide any justification for the access ban and that there was a confidentiality order on the file, Berk stated that the ban was unlawful and that the lawyers took initiatives to overturn the decision. Berk said: "We continue to write and report news to our readers through social media accounts despite the access ban."

	 

	FROM PAST TO PRESENT, THE STATE HAS BEEN SHUTING DOWN THE FREE PRESS

	 

	Noting that not only PİRHA but all institutions from the tradition of free press are facing pressure, Berk said, “The free press is exposed to such pressures because it reports the unlawfulnesses and violations that the state does not want to be heard. From past to present, many Kurdish and opposition TV channels, agencies and newspapers have been shut down. But we did not give up reporting against these pressures, we will not give up. As PIRHA, we are a part of the free press tradition. Today our web site is blocked and we can be detained or arrested. But we stand behind our work and we will continue to exercise our right to report against all pressures and obstructions. We will not kneel." 

	 

	Describing the pressures they experience in Dersim, Berk continued as follows: “Security forces claim that we have to get permission from the Governor's Office to follow news. They prevent us from recording or taking photos." Underlining that many journalist from the free press tradition are detained and arrested before, Berk said: “Our struggle is not a struggle that has just begun, it is the struggle of the years fought by the free press. We will not take a step back. The free press cannot be silenced. In no way we will back down from our fight."

	 

	 

	 

	MA / Cengiz Ozbasar