Statement from DIHA News Agency on reporters arrest
Statement from DIHA News Agency on reporters arrest
DIHA Kurdish News Agency has issued a statement to respond to the continuous harassment by police. Lately half a dozen reporters have been detained while doing their job.
The statement reads as follows:
"Since the Dicle News Agency was founded, we have been guided by the idea that access news and information; freedom of expression and the freedom to criticise are universal rights. Our basic motto has always been, “Never make a concession from the truth.”
DÝHA has always been against the government’s political agenda to influence and control the mass media."
By publishing in both Kurdish and Turkish, the agency underlined that "we strive to be a breath of fresh air in the free press. Because of our adherence to our principles, our staffers have faced political pressure, suppression, beatings, detentions and arrests."
DIHA statement underlined that "During the last two years, Kurds and the opposition press have constantly been under pressure. Our agency is no exception."
Most recently, on the morning of April 15, 2011, the agency statement recall how "in our Diyarbakýr office, our regional agent Kadri Kaya and our Batman reporter, Erdoðan Altan were taken into custody because they said the words, “Kurdistan,” “guerilla,” and “leader of the Kurdish people, Abdullah Öcalan” on the Dengê Mezopotamya and Roj television channels, which constitutes a crime. They also said things about military operations, which were considered “code messages” to the “illegal organization.” During the time they have been in custody, four days and counting, they have not been asked about anything other than the news that they covered. Our two friends were finally formally arrested for being part of an “illegal organization.”"
With these arrests, the number of DIHA reporters in prison rose to eight. Ali Buluþ, Mehmet Karaaslan, Faysal Tunç and Behdin Tunç are serving sentences of many years apiece while Hamdiye Çiftçi and Emine Altýnkaya are also being held, awaiting sentencing.
The statement ends by underlining that "Turkey’s freedom of press is severely restricted by the TMK Anti-Terror and Press Laws. There is no guarantee for the opposition press while these laws are still in effect. For that reason, we are calling on human rights institutions, press rights organizations and public opinion to support us."
The statement reads as follows:
"Since the Dicle News Agency was founded, we have been guided by the idea that access news and information; freedom of expression and the freedom to criticise are universal rights. Our basic motto has always been, “Never make a concession from the truth.”
DÝHA has always been against the government’s political agenda to influence and control the mass media."
By publishing in both Kurdish and Turkish, the agency underlined that "we strive to be a breath of fresh air in the free press. Because of our adherence to our principles, our staffers have faced political pressure, suppression, beatings, detentions and arrests."
DIHA statement underlined that "During the last two years, Kurds and the opposition press have constantly been under pressure. Our agency is no exception."
Most recently, on the morning of April 15, 2011, the agency statement recall how "in our Diyarbakýr office, our regional agent Kadri Kaya and our Batman reporter, Erdoðan Altan were taken into custody because they said the words, “Kurdistan,” “guerilla,” and “leader of the Kurdish people, Abdullah Öcalan” on the Dengê Mezopotamya and Roj television channels, which constitutes a crime. They also said things about military operations, which were considered “code messages” to the “illegal organization.” During the time they have been in custody, four days and counting, they have not been asked about anything other than the news that they covered. Our two friends were finally formally arrested for being part of an “illegal organization.”"
With these arrests, the number of DIHA reporters in prison rose to eight. Ali Buluþ, Mehmet Karaaslan, Faysal Tunç and Behdin Tunç are serving sentences of many years apiece while Hamdiye Çiftçi and Emine Altýnkaya are also being held, awaiting sentencing.
The statement ends by underlining that "Turkey’s freedom of press is severely restricted by the TMK Anti-Terror and Press Laws. There is no guarantee for the opposition press while these laws are still in effect. For that reason, we are calling on human rights institutions, press rights organizations and public opinion to support us."
