Journalist Fırat Can Arslan detained

Photo: MA

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Mezopotamya Agency (MA) journalist Fırat Can Arslan was taken into custody in a raid conducted at his residence in Ankara. Arslan was reportedly taken in on allegations of " terrorist propaganda" and brought to Ankara Security Directorate. His phone and computer were confiscated.

Covering news and events concerning the Kurdish population and other minorities in Turkey, Mezopotamya Agency experiences frequent arrests and detentions of its journalists. 

Plummeting press freedom

Ahead of the May elections, Turkey dropped 16 places on Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s World Press Freedom Index, currently standing at 165th out of 180 countries.

In the first quarter of 2023, 195 journalists stood trial, and at least 10 were detained, according to BIA's Media Monitor Reports.

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring Database

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring Reports

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring 2022 Annual Report: Journalists Shackled Ahead of Elections

(AS/WM)