Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association (DFG) announced the report on Right Violations against journalists in November. In the avaulation section of the report, it is stated that the trusteeship practice, which has been discussed a lot in Turkey and is no longer accepted by any segment, has been put into practice again by the AKP-MHP government. The report stated that the trustte regime practice caused great reactions and protests in many centres and added: "We left behind a month in which the attacks on freedom of the press were the most intense with the trustees."

 

TRUSTEES AND PRESSURE ON THE PRESS

 

In the report,it was stated that people took to the streests in many places and exercised their right to protest against the trustee, and the police attacked people and journalists. Report stated following: "In the protests that started on 4 November in Êlih (Batman) Batman Sonsöz newspaper office was raided and the reporter of newspaper Serhat Aslan was detained. On 5 November, JINNEWS reporter Pelşin Çetinkara, journalist Mizgin Sönük and Yeni Yaşam newspaper worker Veysi Akören were beaten and detained. 

 

As if detentions, pressure, violence and obstruction of news monitoring in the field were not enough, news reports and posts criticising the trustee were also criminalised. 10Haber reporter Furkan Karabay was detained and arrested after his news reports and posts about the trial process of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was replaced by a trustee. The Esenyurt trustee dismissed the press manager and press counsellor working in the municipality, and changed the positions of two cameramen."

 

21 JOURNALISTS DETAINED

 

The report stated that the attacks on the press this month were not limited to the trustee protests and continued as follows: "14 journalists, mostly freelance journalists, were detained just for reporting news and receiving royalties in return for this news. Journalists Roza Metina, Ahmet Sümbül, Erdoğan Alayumat (freelance journalist), Bilge Aksu (freelance journalist), Tuğçe Yılmaz (Bianet), Suzan Demir (Gazete Duvar), Serap Güneş (freelance journalist), Havin Derya, Mehmet Uçar (freelance journalist), Bilal Seçkin (freelance journalist), Baver Yoldaş, cartoonist and journalist Doğan Güzel, Berfin Atlı and Mehmet Yaşar Abatan were detained. Mehmet Üçar and Bilge Aksu were arrested after three days of detention.

 

21 journalists were detained in November. This was the highest number of attacks against journalists in recent years. Even the high number of detentions shows us that the conditions for journalists to work freely are gradually being destroyed and that freedom of the press and freedom of expression has reached a low point.

 

We have observed that the violence against journalists has not only taken place on the streets but has also entered the parliament. MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli has now made his threats against members of the press ordinary in his weekly group meetings. Although press organisations reacted to Bahçeli's threats by saying 'We are taking notes', the judicial authorities continue to turn a blind eye.

 

During a brawl between Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya and opposition MPs who reacted against the trustee appointments, Minister Yerlikaya punched ANKA News Agency's cameraman while he was trying to take footage during the discussions on the 2025 budget of the Ministry of Interior in the Planning and Budget Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. We condemn this attack on our colleague by a minister who is responsible for protecting journalists, and we reiterate the fact that even this punch is the most naked manifestation of the fact that journalists are not safe in Turkey."

 

25TH NOVEMBER 

 

In the evaluation section of the report, violations against the press during the events held withing the scope of the 25 November Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women were stated as follows: "Finally, we would like to open a separate parenthesis for 25 November. On the Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, tens of thousands of women took to the streets and demonstrated a strong stance against violence against women and murders. During these protests, many journalists were prevented from following the news and Özgür Yurttaş Reporter İrem Kabataş was detained.

 

18 PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS SHOW STRONG SOLIDARITY

 

Against all these attacks, journalists did not back down even once, and continued to practise their profession wherever they were. As soon as our detained colleagues were released, they returned to their duties and continued to report news and write the truth. Both the attacks against our colleagues who were exposed during the trustee protests and the detention of journalists in the Eskişehir-based operation were strongly protested and the message was given that there would be no retreat. 18 professional organisations came together and revealed a strong solidarity network. Our duty is to enlarge this solidarity network."

 

40 JOURNALISTS UNDER ARREST

 

The report revealed that 3 journalists were attacked, 13 journalists were raided, 21 journalists were detained, 3 journalists were arrested, 5 journalists were threatened, 9 journalists were prevented from following the news and 6 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment. The report also stated that 8 journalists were subjected to investigations, 6 journalists were prosecuted, 2 journalists were fined 88,80 TL, 98 journalists are on trial in 44 cases and the number of arrested journalists is 40 as of 2 December.

 

It is also stated in the report that 2 journalists were dismissed from their jobs, 39 broadcast bans, 1 recall decision, 6 news articles were banned from access, one website was closed down and access to 3 social media content was banned by RTÜK.