Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association published its report on rights violations against journalists in January. In the report, it is pointed out that the pressures against press freedom in Turkey continue in a systematic manner and said, "Journalists wake up every day with new detention operations. Investigations, detentions and arrests against journalists in the first month of the new year paint a dark picture in the field of press freedom, freedom of thought and expression. According to data for 2024; while 74 journalists were investigated in a year, 42 journalists were investigated in January alone, and 17 of the investigations turned into lawsuits."

 

Noting that the repression against journalists is not only carried out through investigations, the report said, "In January, 18 journalists were detained just for doing their job. 9 of the 18 detained journalists were arrested. On 17 January, Güncel and Martı production company was raided and Reyhan Hacıoğlu, Rahime Kavrar, Velat Ekin, Necla Demir Arvas, Velat Ekin, Vedat Örüç, Ahmet Güneş and Eylem Babayiğt, who were detained in house raids in Van, Mersin and Istanbul within the same investigation, were arrested. Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş and ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür, who were also detained in the HALK TV investigation, were arrested."

 

12 JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO 31 YEARS

 

Drawing attention to journalists spent most of their working hours in the corridors of courthouses in January, the report stated, "102 journalists were put on trial in 43 cases due to their professional activities. As a result of these trials, 12 journalists were sentenced to 31 years and 2 months in prison. One of these journalists was former JINNEWS News Director Sofya Alağaş. The hearing of Sofya Alağaş, Co-Mayor of Siirt Municipality, who is currently on trial for the lawsuits filed against her while she was a journalist, was held at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court. Sofya Alağaş was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison for journalism.

 

The report pointed out that another pillar of the pressure on journalists is censorship and reminded that the government, which withdrew the ‘agents of influence’ law as a result of the reactions, brought a new censorship law to the parliament on January 10, Working Journalists' Day. The report reads, "AKP submitted a new agents of influence Law proposal to the Parliament on January 10. The law proposal, which envisages imprisonment from 2 to 5 years for those who report on "data leaks", was passed by the National Defence Commission. Legal experts warned that the enactment of this proposal in its current form is a serious threat to the democratic social order and fundamental human rights. On the other hand, manager Ayşe Barım, who was detained within the scope of the Gezi Park investigation, was arrested on the grounds that she was an 'agent of influence' after the statement procedures at the courthouse. The de facto implementation of a law that has not been passed by the parliament is a cause for concern. This unlawful accusation poses a great danger to freedom of the press, thought and expression.

 

ACCESS BAN

 

In January, 31 virtual media accounts were blocked on the grounds of "protecting national security and public order", including Mezopotamya Agency's @MAturkce with 264 thousand followers, JINNEWS News Agency's @jinnewsturkce with 168 thousand followers, and @yeniyasamgazete with 125 thousand followers. On the other hand, the Instagram accounts of Yeni Yaşam Newspaper and JİNNEWS were also closed. Parallel to the investigations opened by prosecutors, RTÜK acted like a prosecutor and imposed administrative fines on 8 programmes, including broadcasts that criticised the hotel fire in Bolu. While 10 websites were blocked in January, access to 361 news articles was banned.

 

While journalists are arrested and prevented from practising their profession, journalists working outside are also prevented from reporting news through pressures. Journalists face constant intimidation and pressure through investigations. We would like to say it once again: It is not possible to talk about freedom of the press in a country where journalists are imprisoned, subjected to investigations for the news they report and put on trial for the news they publish. We will continue to defend journalism despite all censorship and oppression policies."

 

DETAILS OF THE REPORT

 

The data in the report are as follows:

 

* The organ that was attacked: 2

 

* Journalists killed: 1

 

* Journalists whose houses raided: 10

 

* Detained journalists: 18

 

* Arrested journalists: 9

 

* Journalists subjected to ill-treatment: 2

 

* Journalists prevented from following news: 2

 

* Journalists subjected to rights violations in prison: 4

 

* Journalists under investigation: 42

 

* Journalists against whom lawsuits were filed: 17

 

* Journalist sentenced: 12

 

* Journalists on trial: 102 journalists, 43 files

 

* Arrested journalists: 36

 

* Closed website: 10

 

* News with blocked access: 364

 

* Virtual media contents to which access is blocked: 31