DİYARBAKIR- DFG Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu stated that they see January 10 Working Journalists Day as a day of struggle, not a celebration, in Turkey where 87 journalists are imprisoned, and demanded the release of all imprisoned journalists.
Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) made a statement in front of Diyarbakır Courthouse on the occasion of January 10 Working Journalists' Day. In addition to many journalists, the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) executives, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Amed Provincial Co-chairs Gülistan Atasoy, Zeyyat Ceylan, Aid, Solidarity, Unity and Solidarity with Families Losing Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations participated in the action where the banner "Free press does not bow down" was unveiled. Cultural Association (MEBYA-DER), Mesopotamia Culture and Language Research Association (MED-DER) and representatives of many non-governmental organizations attended. The slogan of “The free press cannot be silenced” was frequently chanted during the action where the photographs of the arrested journalists were carried.
Making the statement, DFG Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu reminded that January 10 was celebrated as the “Working Journalists' Day” due to the guarantee of the journalists' right to work, and said that neither in those days nor today there was a festive atmosphere that journalists could celebrate in Turkey.
'JOURNALISTS ARE STANDING TRIAL, INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE FIELD'
Stating that since the legal regulation was made in 1961, neither the right to work nor the conditions for journalists to carry out their professions have been created, Müftüoğlu said: “The AKP, which came to power with the promises of 'Advanced democracy', has turned this land into a prison for journalists. Nearly 300 media organs that could not be under the monopoly of the government were closed with the Statutory Decrees (KHK) enacted with the State of Emergency declared in 2016. In an environment where journalists continue their profession despite all obstacles, the government is trying to silence journalism by enacting a "Censorship Law" under the name of "fighting disinformation". Every news and social media sharing that disturbs the government becomes the subject of investigation and lawsuit. Journalists spend most of their time in the courthouse because of lawsuits, rather than in the field where they chase news.”
87 JOURNALISTS ARE ARRESTED
Noting that this situation gets worse when it comes to Kurdish journalists, Müftüoğlu said: “27 of our colleagues have been arrested in the operations against the Free Press in the last 7 months, and the number of imprisoned journalists has increased to 87. In June, 22 people, including 20 journalists, were detained in the Diyarbakır-based operation. Due to the confidentiality decision put in the file, our friends were tried to be criminalized through the pro-media about the journalists whose charges were unknown during the detention process. The news of our colleagues, who were transferred to Diyarbakır Courthouse after the 8-day detention process, was made the subject of accusations. 16 out of 20 journalists were arrested in the dead of morning and sent to prison. Despite the 7 months that have passed, the investigation carried out against them has not been completed.”
OUR COLLEAQUES SHOULD BE RELEASED
Müftüoğlu concluded his words as follows: “The Free Press was tried to be silenced with these operations, but despite all the obstacles, we continue to fight for the truth in the name of 'defending the journalism'. In a place where 87 journalists are held captive, we regard January 10 as a day of struggle, not a holiday. We once again call for the release of all journalists, especially our colleagues who were arrested in the operations in Diyarbakır and Ankara."