Authorities take action against reporters instead of rapists

Following the rape of a 15-year-old girl by 27 people, mostly members of the Turkish security forces, in the province of Batman, the Turkish regime is attempting to criminalize reporting.

A news report titled "Gercüş rape investigation: Involving 27 persons including specialist sergeants, police officers and village guards" in which Jin News revealed a child molestation in the Gercüş district of Batman caused public resentment. The Police General Directorate, Batman Governorship and Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office made a statement upon the reactions and targeted the news instead of the perpetrators.

The statement of the General Directorate of Security said, "Within the scope of the virtual patrol activities carried out, a judicial process was initiated against 27 persons who, with the help of the separatist organization, disinformed the social media through the perception operation of a sexual harassment incident that occurred on 05/12/2020 in the district of Gercüş in Batman province."

Batman Governorship said, "Criminal complaints will be filed against media organizations that continue to broadcast despite the media blackout by the Gercüş Magistrate's Court and those who try to spread this false news on social media."

Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated the following: "A confidentiality order and broadcasting ban were issued about the incident by the decision of the Gercüş Magistrate Judge's Office dated 18 November 2020, and the posts and allegations published by some media organizations do not reflect the truth."

The Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services said, "The child in question has been placed in our Child Protection First Response Center in a different province."

Earlier today, a publication ban was imposed on the news article while the journalist who made the report was threatened by special team police.