ISTANBUL - Condemning the detentions and arrests of the Free Press, Journalists  stated that they will continue to be on the streets to defend the truth and called for solidarity against the oppression.

 

28 people, 4 of whom were journalists, were arrested in house raids carried out simultaneously in 21 cities within the scope of the Diyarbakır-based investigation. While a confidentiality decision was brought to the investigation file, the accusation of "being a member of a terrorist organization" was directed against those who were detained and arrested.

 

Women journalists in Istanbul condemned the arrest of journalists Beritan Canözer, Abdurrahman Gök, Mehmetşah Oruç and Remzi Akkaya as part of the operation.

 

'WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK'

 

Stating that the AKP-MHP government has frequently targeted the Free Press in order to change the agenda in the past, Journalist Nezahat Doğan said: "The operation carried out on April 25 was carried out within this scope. We witnessed the detention and disappearance of human rights defenders and lawyers, especially in the 90s when the White Taurus people toured. We also saw that efforts were made to obtain results with these methods, but no results were obtained with these pressures. Now, our friend is being arrested with the statements of an anonymous witness. We will continue to be on the field. These pressures cannot make us take a step back. Abdurrahman Gök, who took the photo of Kemal Kurkut who was murdered in Newroz, Ahmet Kanbal, who exposed the trustee policies with the news he wrote, and besides that, our friends who brought the truth to the public, we are witnesses of their journalism."

 

OPERATION OF OBSCURED THE TRUTH

 

Reminding that many of his friends were arrested in previous operations, Doğan underlined that journalism is not a crime. Doğan said: “The only thing our journalist friends do is to practice their profession. This operation is an operation for the truth. We know that despite all kinds of pressure, as Free Press employees, we will continue to convey the truth to the public. Whatever the cost, we will continue to convey the truth to the public.”

 

CONDEMNING THE SILENCE

 

Stating that the operation against journalists, lawyers, politicians and artists was aimed at breaking the impact of the Greens and Left Future Party (Green Left Party) in society, Can TV program host Medine Meral said: "It is an important attitude to stand up and speak out in times of increased oppression. I criticize the silence of the opposition parties. It is very important to speak up in times like these. I wish there would be some support from the opposition parties, but unfortunately we couldn't see it. Everyone is aware of the importance of these elections. It is clear from the polls that the power has lost power. Now they are aware of this. For this, they carry out attacks and operations.”

 

Stating that the unlawfulness during the election periods was exposed by the Free Press, Meral said: "We will not be able to learn a lot of information without the free press. For this reason, the Free Press was tried to be silenced with pressures. The aim was to hide the truth from society. Members of the press workers who were detained and arrested are very valuable to us. Being silent about this pressure on them today means it will turn against us tomorrow. No one should remain silent. We call for solidarity."

 

THE FEAR OF ELECTION

 

Green Left Party Istanbul MP Candidate Berfin Polat said: "The state launched a comprehensive attack based in Diyarbakır with the start of the election. I was no stranger to these attacks. The state, which showed itself with the massacre attacks in the June 7 elections, wants to prevent our May 14 victory with operations today. All attacks are indicative of the state's fear. We must fight in the streets against these aggressive policies. We must defend both the HDP and the Green Left Party on the streets. These attacks are before an election.