Click to read the article in Turkish
German Federation of Journalists (DJV), Europe's largest journalist organization with approximately 30 thousand members issued a statement expressing its concern over Turkey's increasing pressure on journalists.
DJV criticized the latest police raids and detentions against journalists in Diyarbakır.
At least 21 journalists were detained in police raids in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on June 8.
Among the detained are Serdar Altan, the co-chair of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), and Safiye Alagaş, the manager of the Jin News agency, the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported.
CLICK - Many journalists detained in police raids across Diyarbakır
In the statement entitled "Journalist hunt", DJV pointed out that Turkey has recently shut down the platforms of journalists living abroad, defining these platforms as the "rare independent news sources" that remain.
DJV President Prof. Dr. Frank Überall stated that "what has been done is an indication of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's approach that sees the media as an enemy and his policy for years to suppress independent voices", DW Turkish reported.
Überall also demanded the immediate release of detained journalists from the government in Turkey.
Campaign launched in Switzerland
A campaign has been launched in Switzerland initiated by more than 20 platforms including SOLIFONDS, Mojust International Fondation, medico international schweiz, Plattform für Frieden und Solidaritaet, SP Schweiz, Collectif Question Kurde de l'Université de Genève, Basta, Demokratische Juristinnen und Juristen der Schweiz DJS, Solidarité sans frontières, VERT-E-S Suisse demanding the immediate release of the journalists.
"Freedom of expression is under constant and increasing attack in Turkey" said the signatories calling for support with arrested journalists, reported by Mezopotamya News Agency.
"Academics, journalists, and writers who criticize the government are at risk of criminal investigation, prosecution, intimidation, harassment, and censorship. This strategy, combined with the recent arrest of 21 journalists in Diyarbakir, sends a clear and disturbing message and has serious consequences for press freedom. The scale of the arrests and the repression of the media by the Turkish government is described by many international institutions and organizations as that of ' a country that is a prison for journalists'." the statement read.
"Turkish authorities and courts equate critical journalism with criminal terrorist activity. This situation has also been widely criticized by international organizations including the UN, the Council of Europe and the EU, RSF, and Amnesty International. Turkey ranks 149th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index and currently, 60 journalists are in prison in Turkey."
"We, the undersigned, demand the end of the persecution of journalists in Turkey, the immediate release of journalists currently detained, the repeal of the country's anti-terrorism legislation, the establishment of effective safeguards for freedom of expression, and the independence of the judiciary, the end of the systematic violation of democratic norms and the establishment of press freedom and the rule of law. We call on Turkey to act in accordance with the international conventions it has signed."
Click to reach the petition.
What happened?21 journalists were detained in police raids in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on June 8. As an order of confidentiality has been imposed on the case, it is not known what the journalists were accused of until now. The names of the journalists who are still kept in custody are as follows:
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CLICK - BIA Media Monitoring Reports
(HA/TB)
