DİHA Correspondent Nedim Türfen Arrested

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Dicle News Agency’s Van Correspondent Nedim Türfent has been arrested over “[illegal] organization membership”.

The number of arrested DİHA correspondents has reached 12 with this arrest.

According to bianet’s Media Monitoring Report covering the months of January, February, March the number of arrested journalists was 28. With the arrest of eight other journalists since April, the number has reached 36.

His meeting with his lawyer prevented

Türfent was detained following the vehicle he was in be stopped at the entrance of Van province. Another DİHA’s Van correspondent, Şermin Soydan heading for tracking news was detained in the same day.

Türfent prevented to meet his lawyers at Anti-Terror Branch Office has been taken to Yüksekova.

According to DİHA’s report, the arrest decision was taken on the grounds of the news he made and secret witness testimonies. Türfent has been sent to Hakkari Prison.

Soydan’s detention period has been extended.

DİSK Press Labor: Let us look protect right to information and convey it

The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Press Labor in its statement regarding the matter called to protect right to information and convey it.

“Journalist in our country has been passing a test that has never been this hard. The journalists going out to street to make news are being detained and arrested one by one. The biggest target of the attack against the press is the Dicle News Agency; three workers of the agency are convicted; 12 others are imprisoned. Lastly, Nedim Türfent has been arrested, and Şermin Seydan’s detention period has been extended.

“The agency workers under pressure and threat trying to pass information to public in conflict zones are being targeted by state officials. In this period, what falls to lot of all journalists is to look out for the occupation and their colleagues. We have no chance but to elevate solidarity against the crackdowns”. (BK/TK)