FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Metro Center calls for a united stand against the closure of Gezengy Barbayan 

  The Metro Center for Journalist Rights & Advocacy stated that the closure of the Gezengy Barbayan Production Company was a political decision and called for a united stand to be taken.
• MKG: You cannot silence the voice of women journalists! 

  Condemning the closure of Kompanya Gizingî Berbeyan media production company, MKG said, “You cannot silence the voices of women journalists. Our struggle for truth will continue.”
• Media production company Gizinge Berbeyan protests closure order 

  Media production company Gizinge Berbeyan protested the decision to close its center, saying it was a violation of press freedom and women's rights.
• 122 journalists and media workers killed in 2024, says the IFJ 

  The IFJ deplores 2024 as one of the deadliest years for journalists and reiterates its determination to see an International Convention for the Protection of Journalists adopted by the United Nations as a matter of urgency.
• Amnesty International protests arrest of journalists in Turkey  

  Amnesty International protested the killing of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin and the arrest of journalists in Turkey, calling for their immediate release.
• Access to Mezopotamya Agency and Yeni Yaşam websites blocked 

  The websites of Mezopotamya Agency and Yeni Yaşam newspaper were blocked by court decisions.
• Italian journalist arrested in Iran 

  Italian journalist Cecilia Sala taken in by police while reporting in Tehran, said Italy’s foreign ministry.
• Dicle Fırat Journalists Association announces legal report for 2024 

  In 2024, the DFG provided legal support to 152 journalists and followed the trials of dozens of journalists.
• Boltan: Journalists Bilgin and Dastan were deliberately targeted 

  Basin-Is Amed representative Boltan said that journalists Bilgin and Dastan were deliberately killed, and added that those responsible must be brought to justice.
• Police take Yeni Yaşam newspaper worker into custody in Batman 

  Yeni Yaşam newspaper worker Veysi Akören was taken into custody in Batman.
• DFG, MKG and human rights advocates call for the release of imprisoned journalists 

  DFG, MKG and human rights advocates called for the release of 9 people, including 7 journalists, who were imprisoned in Istanbul for protesting the killing of colleagues Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in Rojava.
• Mahmut Oral: Journalists Daştan and Bilgin were deliberately targeted 

  Mahmut Oral from the Turkish Journalists Union said that Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were deliberately targeted. He criticized Turkey for trying to legitimize their murder by criminalizing the journalists through its official statements.
• Ferhat Koçak: Turkish state commits crimes in Rojava 

  Berlin State Parliament member Ferhat Koçak condemned the killings of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, and said that Turkey is committing crimes in Rojava.
• Journalist Sağlam: Our pen is stronger than any arrest and threat! 

  Journalist Mahsun Sağlam, who was detained at a protest about the murder of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, said: “Our pen is stronger than any arrest and threat."
• CPJ urges Turkey to release the jailed journalists and allow the media to report freely 

  Seven critical journalists have recently been imprisoned in Istanbul for protesting against the killing of their colleagues Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in a targeted Turkish drone attack in northern Syria. The CPJ calls for their immediate release.
• DAANES calls for international protection of journalists from the brutality of the Turkish state 

  DAANES calls on the UN and the international community to take serious steps to ensure the protection of journalists from the brutality of the Turkish state.
• IFJ President Dominique Pradalié: Turkish army targets journalists like the mafia 

  Stating that the killing of Kurdish journalists constitutes a war crime, IFJ President said: “The Turkish army is targeting journalists in the same way as the mafia in Mexico. Turkey is targeting journalists for the same purpose as Israel."
• DFG protests the arrest of 7 journalists  

  Protesting the arrest of 7 journalists in Istanbul, DFG said: “We will not bow down, we will continue to defend journalism everywhere.”
• 7 journalists and 2 politicians remanded in custody in Istanbul 

  7 journalists and 2 politicians were remanded in custody in Istanbul. They attended the press conference held for Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, murdered in Northern and Eastern Syria.
• ‘Attacks on journalists are acts of terrorism perpetrated by dictators to cover up the truth’ 

  Chatr Production Company calls on the international community not to remain silent on the murder of journalists by the occupying Turkish state and put limits on these actions of the fascist Turkish state
• YPJ: Those who fear truth and reality consistently target journalists with brutal violence 

  The Media Center of the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ) released a statement strongly condemning the treacherous attack carried out by the Turkish occupation forces against journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazim Daştan:
• Women journalists from South Kurdistan: No power will be able to silence the Free Press! 

  Protesting the murder of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, women journalists from South Kurdistan said: “The Turkish state is afraid of the Free Press. No power will be able to silence the free press.”
• Investigation against T24 and journalist Avşar for writing about killing of Daştan and Bilgin 

  A criminal investigation has been launched following the publication of an article titled "Journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin Killed in Syria" on T24 and a social media post by journalist Seyhan Avşar.
• Journalist Acar: Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgen were deliberately targeted  

  Emrullah Acar said that journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgen were deliberately targeted and killed, and underlined that they will honor the legacy of their fallen colleagues.
• Fourteen bar associations issue joint statement about killing of journalists Bilgin and Daştan 

  Fourteen bar associations issued a joint statement about the killing of journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan, calling for the protection of civilians' right to life.