DFG: 4 journalists were arrested, access to 268 news stories was blocked 

2023-10-03 14:44:31


	AMED - Stating that the number of detained journalists increased to 63, DFG announced that 12 journalists were detained in September, 4 were arrested, 7 journalists were sentenced to prison, and access to 164 social media content and 268 news was blocked.

	Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) published the "September Report on Rights Violations Against Journalists". The report stated that while the number of detained journalists increased to 63, 7 journalists were sentenced to 5 years, 9 months and 15 days. In the evaluation section of the report, it was stated that the rights violations against journalists are endless and that new rights violations are encountered every month. The report states that journalists, who insist on pursuing the truth against all this, continue to resist to protect the honor of their profession and to defend the public's right to receive information. Violations against the life and safety of journalists continued intensively in September. In addition to the journalists who were detained and arrested, journalists were also threatened and subjected to ill-treatment. They were prevented from following the news many times. Journalists are again among those who are subjected to violations in the field of freedom of thought and expression. Investigations were initiated against them, lawsuits were filed, and penalties were imposed. Many journalists were at the court gates again this month. During the ongoing trials, journalists were forced to leave the courthouses because of their work and efforts."

	 

	THE NUMBER OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS INCREASED TO 63

	 

	The report reminded that the hearings of detained journalists were held in September and noted: "In September, 4 press workers were arrested and put in prison. Thus, the number of journalists in prisons increased to 63. As you know, the Co-President of our association, Dicle Müftüoğlu, is still detained. An indictment was prepared against her towards the end of September, but The court where he will be tried and the date of the hearing have not yet been determined. A similar situation also applies to Mezopotamya Agency Editor Sedat Yılmaz, who was arrested together. Abdurrahman Gök, M. Şah Oruç, Remzi Akkaya and Hamdullah Bayram, among the detained journalists that we focused on in September, had hearings and unfortunately, none of them was not released. In the first days of October, the first hearing of the case filed against detained Tele 1 television Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ will be held. On this occasion, we reiterate our demand for Yanardağ's immediate release."

	 

	'VIOLATIONS CONTINUE IN PRISON'

	 

	The report stated that the violations against journalists in prisons continue and said: "The fact that journalists, including our co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu, are subjected to many violations even within four walls is an indication of how afraid the AKP government is of journalists. Author Celalettin Can, who was held in prison despite being ill, fell ill and was taken to the hospital, and then sent back to prison. The treatment given to Can, who has an honorable stance and showed solidarity with Özgür Gündem newspaper by rebelling against an unlawful act, is unacceptable and we want Can to regain his freedom as soon as possible."

	 

	12 JOURNALISTS WERE DETAINED

	 

	Stating that they turn to journalists to design society, to prevent the negativities from being seen, to keep the facts in the dark, and unfortunately, there is not enough resistance on this issue, the report said: "Therefore, we call again as every month; let's raise our voices louder against these unlawfulnesses and "Let's shout for a more democratic, livable country, a free media/free society," it said. In the report, 12 journalists were detained, 4 of them were arrested, 3 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment, 10 journalists were prevented from following the news, 6 journalists were violated in prisons, 6 journalists were investigated, 7 journalists were sentenced to 5 years, 9 months and 15 days in prison, and 848 days were sentenced to judicial sentences. It was stated that fines were imposed, 11 publication bans, 164 social media content and 268 news were blocked.

	 

	LIST OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS

	 

	"Abdurrahman Gök - Mezopotamya Agency Editor, Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş - Zaman Newspaper, Ahmet Uzan - Sabah Egeli Newspaper News Manager, Ali Aşikar - Azadiya Welat Newspaper, Ali Ünal - Zaman Newspaper Columnist, Aytekin Traveler-Journalist-Writer, Baran Karadag - Azadiya Welat Newspaper employee, Barış Pehlivan - Journalist, Batuhan Çolak - Editor-in-Chief of Aykırı news website, Celalettin Can - Writer, Cengiz Doğan - Editor-in-Chief of Mavi and Kent Newspaper, Çetin Çiftçi - Parliament Reporter of Bugun Newspaper, Derya Ren - JINNEWS Reporter, Devrim Ayık – Özgür Halk Magazine Employee, Dicle Müftüoğlu – Dicle Fırat Journalists Association Co-President, Dilan Oyunş – Azadiya Welat Newspaper Employee, Elif Ersoy – Yürüt Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Eray Gözütok – Atılım newspaper distributor, Ercan Gün – Fox TV News Manager, Erdal Süsem – Eylül Magazine Editor, Erol Zavar – Focus Magazine Owner and Editor-in-Chief, Ferhat Çiftçi – Azadiya Welat Newspaper Antep Representative, Fırat Can Arslan – Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Reporter, Furkan Güngör – News Report Manager, Gültekin Avcı – Gündem Newspaper Column Writer, Hamdullah Bayram – Yeni Yaşam Newspaper Employee, Hasan Taşar – TRT Ankara Reporter, Hatice Duman – Atılım Newspaper Owner and Editor-in-Chief, Hüdaverdi Yıldırım – Can Erzincan TV News Editor, İbrahim Karakaş – Yeni Yaşam Newspaper Employee, İsmail Çoban – Azadiya Welat Former Newspaper Editor-in-Chief, Kadir Koç – Journalist, Kenan Karavil – Radio World Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Baransu – Taraf Newspaper Writer, Mehmet Şah Oruç – Journalist, Mehmet Gündem – Journalist, Melih Gasgar – Cihan News Agency Balıkesir Reporter, Merdan Yanardağ – TELE1 Editor-in-Chief, Miktat Algül – Mezitli FM Editor-in-Chief, Mikail Barut – Journalist, Murat Çapan – Nokta Magazine Managing Editor, Murat Verim – Journalist, Mustafa Gök – Ankara Representative of Ekmek ve Adalet Magazine, Mustafa Ünal – Zaman Newspaper, Nadiye Gürbüz – ETHA Editor, Osman Çalık – Editor-in-Chief of Samanyolu News Radio, Özden Kınık – TRT employee, Özlem Seyhan – Journalist, Recai Morkoç – Cihan News Agency Antalya Regional Office Editor, Remzi Akkaya – Cameraman, Rıfat Söylemez – Owner of Adana News Newspaper, Sami Tunca – Struggle Union Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Sedat Yılmaz – Mezopotamya Agency Editor, Semih Elitaş – Azadiya Welat Newspaper Employee, Serkan Sedat Güray – Burç FM Program Producer, Sertan Önal – Halkın Günlüğü Newspaper, Sibel Mustafaoglu – Azadiya Welat Newspaper Employee, Süha Çardaklı – Agency Informant Manager, Taner Talaş – Journalist, Turgut Usul – TRT Reporter, Tülay Canpolat – Sabah Newspaper Ankara Reporter, Zafer Özcan – Bugun Newspaper Economy Editor, Ziya Ataman – Dicle News Agency (DİHA) Reporter.”