DFG: Pressure on journalists increased in August

  • actual
  • 12:24 2 September 2024
  • |
img

AMED - According to the DFG August Rights Violations Report, pressures against journalists increased and two journalists were murdered as a result of these pressures. 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) announced its August Rights Violations Report. According to the report published on the website of the association; 2 journalists were ill-treated, 6 journalists were threatened, 2 journalists were attacked, 1 journalist was prevented from following the news in August.
 
According to the report, 3 journalists were investigated, 4 journalists were prosecuted, 1 journalist was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison. 35 journalists are still in prison, 16 journalists remained unemployed, 3 programs were suspended by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) and 2 channels were given administrative fines. The report emphasized that 10 broadcast bans were issued in August, 6 websites were shut down, 401 news articles were blocked and 88 virtual media content was blocked.
 
The report stated that journalists Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn lost their lives in the attack carried out by Turkey on August 23 in Seyîdsadik district of Silêmaniyê city in Federated Kurdistan Region. Emphasizing that the AKP-MHP government's attacks on freedom of expression and thought intensified in August, the report said: “The government, which carried the war against the Kurds to Federated Kurdistan, implemented a comprehensive repression policy against journalists with its partner KDP in Federated Kurdistan. While attacks against journalists intensified in July with the cooperation of the KDP, on August 23, Turkey bombed a civilian vehicle inside the borders of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq. Sulaymaniyah-based news agency Rojnews reported that journalists Hêro Bahadîn and Gulistan Tara were killed in the attack. The murder of the journalists was met with reaction in many parts of the world, especially in Kurdistan. The protests called on international organizations to take responsibility against these attacks by Turkey.” 
 
The report emphasized that journalists protested against the massacre of Tara and Bahadîn in many places, especially in Amed and Istanbul, and stated: “The protest organized by journalists in Amed was attacked by the police and many journalists were beaten. Despite all the attacks, the murder of two journalists was protested and the message was given that the Free Press will never remain silent in the face of all these attacks, that the Free Press will raise its voice even stronger and that the rights of journalists will be defended to the end.”
 
'CENSORSHIP CONTINUED'
 
The report reminded that Instagram, which has millions of users, was shut down on the second day of August, and that the platform was reopened after negotiations between the company and Turkish authorities. The report pointed to the impact of the policy against the Kurds on the closure of virtual media platforms and said: “Turkey has made censorship a bargaining chip against the Kurds, making it part of the attack on the Kurdish people's space for thought and expression.”
 
The report emphasized that during the process of Instagram's closure, Roblox was banned from access on the grounds that it “contained content that could lead to the abuse of children” and made the following assessment: “Due to the judiciary being on judicial vacation, many news websites and X accounts were banned from access by court decisions on duty in August, even though there was no trial in the judicial field. It should be noted that many of the news articles that were blocked were news about AKP figures. It was as if the corruption and rights violations committed by AKP figures were censored by the judiciary and the truth was tried to be hidden from the public.”
 
TV CHANNELS PENALIZED
 
The report reminded that 401 news articles were banned from access in August, 6 websites, including the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), were banned from access altogether, and Yeni Yaşam newspaper and 88 virtual media content, including journalists, were banned from access. The report stated that RTÜK fined many TV channels for the programs they broadcast.
 
35 JOURNALISTS IN PRISON 
 
August Rights Violations are as follows:  “While 2 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment, 6 journalists were threatened. While 1 journalist was prevented from following the news, 2 journalists were attacked. 3 journalists were investigated and 4 journalists were prosecuted. 1 journalist was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison. 35 journalists are still in prison. 16 journalists remained unemployed. RTÜK suspended 3 programs and fined 2 channels. 10 broadcast bans were issued. 6 websites were shut down, 401 news articles were banned from access and 88 virtual media content was banned from access.”
 

View More Articles

25/06/2025
16:53 Reasoned decision of Kobani Case announced after 1 year, 1 month and 10 days
15:18 ESM announces Collective Agreement demands
14:52 Four youths detained in Amed
14:44 Council of Europe to discuss Abdullah Öcalan’s ‘Right to Hope’ in September
13:34 Sıddık Güler referred to Forensic Medicine Institute
12:57 Call for united struggle against violations in prisons
12:34 Artists: Military operations during talks are inexcusable
11:31 Ecosystem destruction in Gabar Mountain
10:56 Civil Society calls for peace process: Justice is the only solution
10:11 Sexual violence against children in Şirnex: This is not just a judicial but a political issue
10:10 Husband of ill prisoner: Does her funeral have to come for her release?
10:09 10 years without Eylem Ataş: Her struggle lives on in rebellion of youth!
24/06/2025
16:26 Women in Wan apply to visit İmralı
16:19 IHD and TIHV: Torture in Turkey remains a systematic practice
14:54 ‘Can arbitrary board decisions manage the process?’
14:49 ‘Democratic transformation can only exist on a legal basis’
13:11 ‘Constitution must be drafted where all identities can express themselves’
11:08 Peace Academic Bayraktar: We need a process that questions assumptions
10:43 Women will lead the diplomacy of national unity says Former MP
09:58 Museum and culture house to open in memory of Qazi Muhammad
09:18 Impunity policies increase femicide rates
09:17 Peace Mothers: Women must meet with the Leader
09:01 Demand for 'Freedom for Öcalan' in Amed
23/06/2025
16:29 Health Workers' Union announces its demands for Collective Agreement
16:02 Egîdê Cimo Music School gave its first graduates
15:47 PJAK calls on Azerbaijani people
14:47 DEM Party: Parties to meet tomorrow in Parliament for Commission
14:38 ‘Bolu Prison turned into a punishment camp’
13:53 Final Declaration of ‘Memory and Justice’: The state must take action
13:06 MSD condemns attack on church in Damascus
12:56 Israel bombed Evin Prison
12:50 ‘Women’s Alliance Secretariat’ formed at Kurdish Women’s Union Conference
11:45 Congress of Local and Regional Authorities visits DEM Party
11:44 Iranian regime on the brink of collapse: Kurdish forces must act responsibly
10:47 Pressures increases in Iran: Detention and internet ban
10:19 Abdullah Öcalan calls for Kurdish National Congress
09:38 Ukraine: 4 killed in Russian attack
09:34 Tree slaughter start in Yazidi village for construction of police station
09:31 'The Road to Peace' meeting: We can achieve peace by joining hands
22/06/2025
17:13 Öcalan should speak on the streets, not in Parliament says Bülent Arınç
17:00 We need an honourable peace says Ömer Öcalan
13:44 'How to achieve peace' discussed at IHD meeting
13:20 'Paving Way to Peace' conference: Democracy front should propose a solution
12:48 Armed raid on fire brigade directorate carrying out 'fire inspection' of JITEM member’s hotel
11:37 'I want to visit Öcalan' campaign: Applications to the Ministry continue
10:24 Release of ill prisoner Besra Erol postponed for 6 months
09:46 Threat to US: Close the Strait of Hormuz
09:30 Father of prisoner who tortured with pliers: His treatment is being prevented
09:02 First statement from Netanyahu: US action will change history
08:58 US struck Iran's nuclear facilities: Key nuclear facilities obliterated