ANKARA - Sending their messages via their lawyers, the journalists detained yesterday underlined that there is an attack against their profession, that they are insisting on the truth and they will never bow down.

As part of the Ankara-based investigation, 11 journalists from the Mesopotamia Agency and JINNEWS were detained with raids on their homes and offices on October 25. Journalists detained in the Ankara Police Department were able to meet with their lawyers for the first time today with the end of the restriction on lawyers.

Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Editor-in-Chief Diren Yurtsever, reporters Berivan Altan and Selman Güzelyüz, and JINNEWS reporter Habibe Eren sent messages through their lawyers.

WE ARE INSISTING ON THE TRUTH

Diren Yurtsever: It was something we had expected to happen. The state, whenever it is caught red-handed, has always targeted the press that exposes the truth. We are detained because we exposed the truth and conveyed the facts to the people. This is not new for us. Recently 16 of our colleagues were arrested. We will never back down from doing our jobs and continue the tradition of free press. Our insistance is an insistance on the truth. We will continue to do so. I am calling for solidarity."

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE DESPITE THIS ERA OF DARKNESS

Habibe Eren: Journalists are always the first ones to be targeted to intimidate the people. The fact that we are Kurdish journalists and convey the truth to the people have put a target on our backs further. 16 of our colleagues were arrested in June. They haven't even been able to prepare their indictment and find something to accuse them with and now we are here, detained, not knowing what we are accused of, just like them. If there was journalists who wrote through the darkness of the 80's and 90's, there will be journalists like that today. We have to be louder voicing our demands. Journalists continue their profession under all conditions with a collective will."

ALTAN: OUR ONLY 'CRIME' IS JOURNALISM

Berivan Altan: Our only 'crime' is to do our jobs as journalists. This is why we are here. Our only expectation from our friends outside is to hold on to journalism and continue on our path. We have never bowed down, they shouldn't either."

IT'S AN ATTACK ON OUR PROFESSION

Selman Güzelyüz: "No matter what the consequences are, we will keep writing. This is an attack on our profession."