Within the scope of the investigation launched by Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 10 journalists, including Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG) Chair Roza Metîna were detained in house raids in Amed (Diyarbakır), Êlih (Batman) and Istanbul. 

 

'JOURNALISM ON TRIAL HERE'

 

 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-Chair Selman Çiçek pointed out that repression and censorship are increasing and said that journalists are being detained for practising their profession. Pointing to the increasing pressure on journalists, Çiçek said: "Turkey is being dragged into chaos. Corruption and poverty have reached an extreme level. It cannot overcome this and because it cannot overcome this, it attacks the free press, which is the only voice of truth. Because there is a press channel it has created for itself. This press channel almost plays three monkeys. But the free press continues to write the truth at all costs. Today, our journalist friends were detained for writing this reality, this truth."

 

Calling on journalists to stand in solidarity with their colleagues, "From here, we once again call on our people, colleagues and professional groups to stand in solidarity. We say that the voice of truth cannot be silenced. And once again we underline it: Journalism is not a crime," Çiçek said.

 

'THE GOVERNMENT SEES JOURNALISM AS TERRORISM'

 

 

Journalists' Union of Turkey Diyarbakır Representative Mahmut Oral reminded the operations carried out against journalists during critical processes. Underlining that the government considers journalism as "terrorism" and journalists as "terrorists" and that journalists are detained as a result of using the law as a "stick", Oral said: "We absolutely do not accept and condemn this operation against journalists. We call on the authorities to proceed with the process in a transparent manner as soon as possible and hope that our journalist friends will be released."

 

Stating that journalism is under threat in Turkey, "The AKP government is increasing the extent and severity of this threat with each passing day. Journalism is becoming an important risk area. Of course, its aim is to cover up the truth. We absolutely do not approve of the criminalisation of journalism. We say that journalism is not a crime. Journalists in Turkey have always been under serious threat. 12 of our journalist colleagues are under arrest. We hope that they will be released on this occasion. We invite all professional organisations to solidarity on this issue."

 

'STAND IN SOLIDARITY'

 

 

Stating that among the detainees are journalists, writers, cartoonists, filmmakers and intellectuals, Hakkı Boltan, the representative of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK) Basın-İş, said: "This shows us that this is the main target of the government. The government is targeting intellectuals. This attack is an intolerance towards the Free Press's transparent reporting of the truth to the public. This attack is against journalism that exposes the government's recent policies towards the opposition and especially the Kurds. We must stand in solidarity against this fascist government."