Turkey: Ongoing Government Violence Against Kurdish Journalists Ahead of Elections
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakır
Date: April 27, 2023Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Jinnews reporter Beritan Canözer and 10 other journalists arrested in house raids in Diyarbakır, Turkey. If the media cannot do its job without facing severe intimidation, the election results will always be open to question, undermining the legitimacy and effectiveness of the government.
On April 25, 11 journalists were detained in house raids in Diyarbakır. Among them is reporter Canözer, who has been detained for the fifth time since 2019. She was accused of terrorist propaganda in at least two cases. She was soon after arrested along with other three journalists.
The prosecutor’s office sealed the ongoing case and imposed a 24-hour lawyer restriction. Police confiscated their books and computers.
Canözer says she was asked about her phone conversations with colleagues and previous stories she had covered.
“It's been five years, CFWIJ has raised the issue with the crackdown against Kurdish journalists,” says Kiran Nazish, CFWIJ’s founder. “This particular stifling of Kurdish voices has been ignored in the mainstream, leading to an even greater number of journalists behind bars.”
Dicle Müftüoğlu, the co-chair of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association, a Turkey-based support organization for journalists, spoke to CFWIJ, saying she believes her colleagues are imprisoned to prevent them from covering the news.
“When there is so little time left until the elections, this is a coup against democracy in itself,” Müftüoğlu told CFWIJ. “Elections held in such an environment will be anti-democratic.”
CFWIJ joined 25 international organizations condemning the detentions, demanding the immediate release of journalists, and ending the systematic harassment and intimidation of Kurdish journalists.
Previously, CFWIJ condemned the detention of Dilan Akyol and called for an end to the violence against Kurdish journalists on April 14.
The mass detentions are evidence of the Turkish government's attempt to obstruct press freedom. We call on authorities to immediately abandon this approach.
Police Violence and Legal Harassment Against Journalists Continue
Crackdown on the press is not only directed at Kurdish journalists in Turkey. Investigative journalists are also subjected to police violence and legal harassment.
Journalists Sibel Yükler, Yıldız Tar, and Deniz Nazlım were beaten by police while covering a press release held in Ankara on July 5, 2022, to support journalists behind bars. Journalists subsequently filed a criminal complaint against the police officers responsible. On April 25, the prosecutor in charge of the investigation decided not to pursue the case, citing a lack of serious injury sustained by the journalists.
CFWIJ condemns the systematic repression, harassment, and violence against journalists in Turkey. These shocking attacks against journalists show a blatant disregard for freedom of expression and journalist safety in Turkey. It is especially dangerous as the country prepares to hold elections. All journalists who have been detained should be released immediately.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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