FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Turkey bans Nuçe Ciwan Agency for the 51st time 

  Nuçe Ciwan (Youth News) Agency banned for the 51st time by the Turkish state.
• Journalist Aziz Oruç remains in prison 

  The second day of hearing in the main trial against Kurdish journalist Aziz Oruç took place in Ağrı. The court ordered an extension of his detention pending trial.
• English PEN gives jailed Kurdish journalist honorary membership 

  Türfent said that the award “will open a new window in my cell in this depressing and draining prison."
• Censorship targets Nûçe Ciwan Agency  

  Confronted with an access barrier once again, Nûçe Ciwan Agency said in a written statement that their struggle will continue in line with the revolutionary and free press tradition.
• Journalist Oktay Candemir taken into custody 

  The journalist continues to be target of Turkish authorities.
• DFG: 2 journalists jailed, 8 others attacked in August 

  Journalism in Turkey: A journalist was arrested because he was reporting on the suicide of a Kurdish woman after being raped by a Turkish sergeant. In Amed, the police tried to recruit a journalist as an informer.
• NRT reporter arrested in Zakho on hunger strike 

  NRT reporter Ahmad Zakhoy’s life in danger, warns local press freedom watchdog.
• Van Governor defends ban, targets ANF 

  Van Governor M. Emin Bilmez said about the ban going on for 4 years: "Look at the news of the ANF, and you will understand why we are implementing this ban."
• KDP shuts down the NRT offices in Duhok and Hewler 

  The NRT offices in Duhok and Hewler have been shut down today after an obstruction of its reporters from covering the developments and protests in the region.
• Güney: Women journalists fight male language in media 

  "We have assumed a role and mission to change and transform the male mentality. We take this as a duty because this is a form of struggle for us."
• Censorship in Turkey: JinNews website blocked 

  The website of the news agency JinNews has been blocked in Turkey following a decision by the telecommunications authority.
• Journalist Deniz Firat killed by ISIS remembered in Maxmur 

  Deniz Firat has been remembered in Maxmur. The Kurdish journalist was killed in an ISIS attack on the refugee camp in Southern Kurdistan six years ago.
• DFG Association says 98 journalists are currently in prison 

  In Turkey, 98 journalists are currently in prison while 2 journalists were detained in July, 3 journalists attacked and 64 journalists stood trial.
• UN “concerned” by the new social media bill in Turkey 

  Throssell warned that the law, if adopted, would further undermine the right of people in Turkey to freedom of expression, to obtain information and to participate in public and political life.
• Lêgerîn, new magazine to spread Ocalan's ideas 

  Lêgerîn is a new magazine which promotes the dissemination of the ideology on which the Rojava Revolution is based, i.e. Abdullah Ocalan's Democratic Confederalism.
• KDP refuses to provide information on arrested journalist 

  KDP security forces refuse to provide information on journalist Qehreman Şukri who was arrested in Duhok on June 27.
• Journalist Aziz Oruç remains in prison 

  The main trial against Kurdish journalist Aziz Oruç was opened in Ağrı. The 36-year-old former correspondent of DIHA news agency, banned in Turkey by decree, remains in prison for the time being.
• Call to join journalist Oruç trial today 

  A call for solidarity and to release journalist Aziz Oruç, whose trial will begin today, was made through social media on Monday night.
• Journalist arrested by KDP missing for 17 days 

  Journalist Qehreman Şukri was arrested 17 days ago in the city of Duhok. The media representative was about to document a Turkish massacre in Sheladize.
• Hulya Oruç: I expect everyone to support Aziz  

  The first hearing of journalist Aziz Oruç, who has been illegally held hostage in Patnos Prison for months, will be held in Ağrı 2nd High Criminal Court on 21 July.
• Prison sentence for journalist Aslı Ceren Aslan confirmed 

  An appeal court in Istanbul has confirmed the almost seven-year prison sentence for terror propaganda against the editor-in-chief of the left-wing weekly newspaper "Özgür Gelecek". The 30-year-old now wants to go to the Court of Cassation.
• Call for solidarity with journalist Oruç as trial nears 

  A call for solidarity was made for Journalist Aziz Oruc, whose trial will begin on 21 July.
• Women's Press Union established in Qamishlo 

  “The media plays an important role. It shows the world the way of truth. It can analyse and assess events before they occur. As a result, the press is almost more important than diplomatic means," Ehmed said.
• Journalist detained in the operation against DTK 

  Yet another person has been arrested in the scope of the investigation launched against the civil society organization DTK.
• Suspended prison sentence for journalist over Tahir Elçi cartoon 

  Kurdish journalist Özgür Paksoy has been sentenced to a suspended prison term of almost one year for “insulting the president”. A caricature of the Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff, which shows the slain lawyer Tahir Elçi, was cited as evidence.