Reactions to the detention operation against free press workers in Ankara and Istanbul and the raid on the studios of Stêrk TV and Medya Haber TV broadcasting in Belgium are growing.

Some of the reactions are as follows:

Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD): "Journalism is not a crime! These operations, which are an attack on the freedom of the press and the public's right to receive news, must end, journalists must be released immediately, and the obstacles preventing the studios from reporting must be removed."

DBP Co-Chair Keskin Bayindir: "The Erdoğan-Bahçeli government, which cannot digest its defeat on 31 March, is again looking for a solution to prolong its political life by targeting the Kurdish people. As the first step in this, it is targeting the free press. Belgium's involvement in the wide-ranging war policies is a summary of how Europe views the Kurdish people's demand for democracy and freedom. European democracy is always open to debate and should be questioned."

DEM Party Group Deputy Chair, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit: "After we celebrated the struggle of free press labourers for years on Kurdish Journalists' Day yesterday, 8 journalists were detained in an operation against free press labourers in Istanbul and Ankara today. Likewise, Belgian police entered the studios of Stêrk TV and Medya Haber TV unannounced and unlawfully, threatened to detain their employees, and confiscated some of the technical equipment and documents! Journalism is not a crime! These operations are an attack on the freedom of the press and the public's right to information! Journalists must be released immediately and the obstacles preventing the studios from reporting news must be removed!"

Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP): "These attacks against the free press are part of the fascist chief regime's total war policy against our Kurdish people. The tradition of the free press shouting the truth against occupation, colonialism and special war policies is our honour. You cannot close the news channels that are the eyes, ears and voice of our Kurdish people. The free press cannot be silenced!”

Kırkyama/ Assurance for Women: "Release the detained journalists! The Free Press cannot be silenced!"

Women's Defence: "We demand the immediate release of our friends, including women journalists who are always with us in our struggle. The free press cannot be silenced!

Özgürlükçü Gençlik (Libertarian Youth): "Many of our friends were detained in the operation against free press labourers in Istanbul and Ankara. The free press cannot be silenced! Press labourers must be released immediately!"

SODAP: "The Palace fascism attacks press labourers with the concern of covering up the truth. The tradition of the free press has continued to write despite all attacks, and will continue to do so!"

Socialist Women's Assemblies (SKM): "The Free Press, the true voice of women, youth and the people, is not alone. They are trying to silence the attacks against the Kurdish people. They are trying to silence the free press through attacks of detention and arrest. We stand by the free press labourers who cannot be silenced. You will not be able to silence the voice of truth."

Rosa Women's Association: "Immediately put an end to the systematic judicial harassment of free press workers who were detained in raids in Istanbul and Ankara!"