The Dicle Firat Association of Journalists (Dicle Fırat Gazeteciler Derneği, DFG) has released its monthly report on repression against journalists in Turkey.

The report reveals that journalists were subjected to detentions, arrests, investigations, lawsuits, prison sentences, agencification, attacks and threats.

Remarking that Turkish courts lack judicial independence, the report said, "We call on the judiciary to stop using laws as a "stick" to beat press workers and remind that journalism is not a crime but the main duty of journalists.”

‘RELEASE THE IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS’

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has recently introduced the 'Human Rights Action Plan' and legal reforms. If the government is sincere in its reform discourse, they can start by releasing journalists in prison as a first step."

The report stressed that journalistic activities would continue with the motto "Free press, free society" against oppression.

The DFG celebrated the March 8 International Women's Day of women journalists.

The report listed violations of the rights against journalists in the month of February: “6 journalists were detained, 1 was jailed, 2 were attacked, 8 were mistreated, 2 were threatened, 2 prevented from reporting the news. 4 investigations were launched, 11 journalists faced trials, 6 journalists were sentenced to 26 years of imprisonment, 2 journalists were ill-treated in prison, 174 news and 3 websites were blocked, a total of 85 journalists are under arrest.”