Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association (DFG) announced the February Journalism Rights Violations report. In the report shared on the website of the association, it was emphasised that rights violations against journalists continued in February.

 

The report drew attention to the detention and treatment of journalists in February and stated: "In February, 7 journalists' houses were raided and 18 journalists were detained. 8 of 18 detained journalists were arrested. 8 journalists were prevented from following the news and 3 journalists were threatened. In the first week of February, JINNEWS reporter Oznur Deger, Bursa Muhalif Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ozan Kaplanoglu and journalist Ali Baris Kurt were detained and arrested. The house where our colleague Oznur Deger lived with her family was raided and she was subjected violence. The violence against Oznur Deger was not only limited to the house raid, but also continued at the hospital where she was taken, and she was arbitrarily denied a medical report on her injuries. Our colleague was exiled to Erzingan without informing her family and lawyers."

 

JOURNALISTS HANDCUFFED BEHIND THEIR BACKS

 

Report pointed out that JINNEWS reporter Rabie Onver, Mezopotamya News Agency reporters Bilal Babat and Mehmet Güleş, journalists Ruşen Takva, Medine Mamedoglu and Behcet Bayhan were detained during the attack on the municipality building after the appointment of a trustee to the Wan (Van) Metropolitan Municipality. Journalists Elif Akgul, Yıldız Tar, Ercument Akdeniz, Saime Oguzhan and journalist-writer Ender Imrek were detained during the HDK operation. 4 journalists were arrested and Ender Imrek was given house arrest."

 

The report stated that journalists were once again targeted in Turkey's attacks on the North East and Syria, and underlined that journalist Egit Roj was murdered in Tishreen region on 15 February, and that 6 journalists lost their lives in Turkey's attacks in the last 6 months.

 

'CENSORSHIP DID NOT STOP'

 

The report also noted that censorship continued in February. The report emphasised that X accounts of dozens of journalists and press organisations were unlawfully blocked in February. The report reads: " In February, 309 accounts, mostly belonging to journalists, were blocked. 26 news posts were also blocked.  On 5 February, the Ministry of Interior blocked 126 X accounts and 14 X posts upon the request of the General Directorate of Security. Van 3rd Criminal Judicature of Peace blocked access to 90 websites and 21 social media accounts upon the request of Adıyaman 2nd Criminal Judicature of Peace and Adıyaman Provincial Gendarmerie Command. Among the blocked accounts were Artı Gerçek's X account with 366 thousand followers, JINNEWS' Kurdish account, Yeni Yaşam Newspaper's Youtube account, ETHA and the accounts of journalists such as Yavuz Baydar, Hayko Bagdat, Abdurahman Gok, Fehim Isik.  Access bans were imposed on 6 websites, including Mezopotamya Agency, the Kurdish service of Voice of America and Ozgur Gelecek magazine. RTUK's fines also continued this month. RTUK imposed administrative fines of 3 percent on 19 programmes. On the other hand, the prosecutor's office took the media under scrutiny in the Gezi Park investigation. The prosecutor's office sent a letter to RTUK and requested that the broadcast records of media organisations that broadcast propaganda during the Gezi Park events 12 years ago be sent to the investigation file.

 

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND THE RIGHT TO NEWS

 

As we leave another month behing, we hope that journalists will be able to do their work in a freer working environment in the spring months. However, the data of the last two months reveal a dark picture in terms of press freedom. While a decrease in the number of imprisoned journalists was expected, the number of imprisoned journalists in Turkey increased to 42 with the arrest of 8 journalists. This number is an important data showing that there is no freedom of the press in Turkeu. We state that the government must end its policies of oppression and intimidation in the field of press freedom, freedom of expression. It should not be forgotten that a free press means a free society. A society where journalists are not free cannot be free. For this reason, we call on all segments of society to stand in solidarity with journalists and defend their right to information."

 

8 JOURNALISTS ARRESTED

 

Violations of rights against journalists in February are as follows: 1 journalist was killed. 7 journalists' houses were raided, 18 journalists were detained, 8 journalists were arrested. 8 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment, 3 journalists were threatened, 8 journalists were prevented from following the news. 8 journalists were investigated and 8 journalists were prosecuted. 4 journalists were sentenced to 4 years and 11 months in prison, 30 journalists are on trial in 26 cases. As of 1 March, 42 journalists are being held in prison.  6 websites were closed down, access to 26 news articles was banned and 309 virtual media content was blocked.