content tagged with kurdish journalists

Kurdish Journalism Day marked on 128th anniversary of first newspaper

Kurdish Journalism Day marked on 128th anniversary of first newspaper

"There was exile 128 years ago, and today there is pressure and siege. There is pressure on the entire press, but this pressure is even greater on the Kurdish press," said DEM Party spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan.

İrfan Kovankaya

Kurdish journalists targeted in new wave of online censorship

Kurdish journalists targeted in new wave of online censorship

“The government doesn't want any dissenting voices outside of its official narrative," says journalist Ruşen Takva.

10 April 2026 Irfan Kovankaya

Journalist Nedim Oruç detained while covering protest in Şırnak over Aleppo clashes

Journalist Nedim Oruç detained while covering protest in Şırnak over Aleppo clashes

Clashes between protesters and police continued in side streets after the journalist’s detention.

15 January 2026

Court acquits İstanbul Bar board in trial over statement on killed Kurdish journalists

Court acquits İstanbul Bar board in trial over statement on killed Kurdish journalists

Eleven individuals stood trial for condemning an airstrike that killed two journalists in Syria in Dec 2024.

'Terrorism' trial begins for journalists over freelance work for pro-Kurdish media

'Terrorism' trial begins for journalists over freelance work for pro-Kurdish media

“In a period when peace discussions are back on the agenda in the country, I am being accused of ‘aiding’ and ‘being a member’ of an organization that dissolved itself and laid down arms. Isn't this a clear irony?” bianet editor Tuğçe Yılmaz said in her defense.

9 December 2025 Hikmet Adal

Journalists acquitted over protest against killing of Kurdish reporters in Syria airstrike

Journalists acquitted over protest against killing of Kurdish reporters in Syria airstrike

Two Kurdish journalists were killed in a suspected Turkish drone strike in Syria in Dec 2024.

5 November 2025

Journalist Zeynep Durgut receives threats after reporting on alleged sex trafficking ring in Şırnak

Journalist Zeynep Durgut receives threats after reporting on alleged sex trafficking ring in Şırnak

Durgut reported on an alleged sex trafficking ring involving military officers that forced women brought from Syria's Kurdish regions into sex work.

Kurdish journalist Diren Yurtsever acquitted in trial for 'exposing informant's identity'

Kurdish journalist Diren Yurtsever acquitted in trial for 'exposing informant's identity'

The case was filed after a key witness in the Kobanî trial, whose testimony contributed to prison sentences for several pro-Kurdish politicians, filed a complaint regarding news reports about the court proceedings.

Executive of pro-Kurdish news agency faces trial for exposing informant’s identity

Executive of pro-Kurdish news agency faces trial for exposing informant’s identity

Diren Yurtsever faces a prison sentence of one to three years.

6 March 2025 Hikmet Adal

Siirt co-mayor sentenced to prison over past journalism activities

Siirt co-mayor sentenced to prison over past journalism activities

Sofya Alağaş, a former manager for a pro-Kurdish news agency, has been sentenced in connection with the agency's reporting.

28 January 2025

Journalists face prison over coverage of Kurdish reporters killed in northern Syria

Journalists face prison over coverage of Kurdish reporters killed in northern Syria

Two Kurdish journalists were killed in northern Syria last month. The prosecutors labeled them as “terrorists” and deemed the coverage of the events “terror propaganda.”

21 January 2025

7 journalists among arrested following Istanbul protests

7 journalists among arrested following Istanbul protests

59 detained at protest in Istanbul following the killing in northern Syria of two Kurdish journalists -9 arrested.

23 December 2024

Dozens detained amid protests over Kurdish journalists killed in drone reported Turkish strike

Dozens detained amid protests over Kurdish journalists killed in drone reported Turkish strike

Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were killed while covering the clashes between Turkish-backed groups and the SDF.

20 December 2024

Two Kurdish journalists killed in suspected Turkish drone strike in northern Syria

Two Kurdish journalists killed in suspected Turkish drone strike in northern Syria

Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were covering the clashes between Turkey-backed groups and Kurdish foces.

20 December 2024

Two arrested, bianet reporter Tuğçe Yılmaz, others released in investigation targeting pro-Kurdish media

Two arrested, bianet reporter Tuğçe Yılmaz, others released in investigation targeting pro-Kurdish media

Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Uçar, a teacher and a journalist were formally arrested while 16 detained individuals were released.

29 November 2024

Press freedom organizations denounce detention of journalists

Press freedom organizations denounce detention of journalists

The organizations criticized the confidentiality order placed on the investigation, which has so far led to the detention of nine journalists among others.

28 November 2024

bianet reporter among detained journalists as police raid homes across three cities

bianet reporter among detained journalists as police raid homes across three cities

Five journalists and a film director have been taken into custody during morning raids on their residences. Two journalists, including bianet reporter Tuğçe Yılmaz, were not present at the addresses at the time of the raids. Yılmaz was later taken into custody after visiting a police department to provide a statement.

26 November 2024

Court of Cassation upholds Kurdish journalist Beritan Canözer’s prison sentence

Court of Cassation upholds Kurdish journalist Beritan Canözer’s prison sentence

Canözer stood trial for her social media posts from 2013 to 2016.

22 November 2024

Three issues of pro-Kurdish newspaper Yeni Yaşam seized in a week

Three issues of pro-Kurdish newspaper Yeni Yaşam seized in a week

The newspaper's editor-in-chief Mehmet Ali Çelebi suggests that the recent censorship reflects the ruling bloc's attempt to shape any potential new "peace process" with the Kurds to fit their own agenda.

18 October 2024 Hikmet Adal

Prosecutor declines to take Kurdish journalist’s testimony despite home raid, arrest warrant

Prosecutor declines to take Kurdish journalist’s testimony despite home raid, arrest warrant

Rabia Önver, who wasn’t at home during a Sep 20 raid on her home, went to the courthouse to provide a statement. The prosecutor declined to take her testimony.

25 September 2024

Journalist faces disinformation charges after reporting on alleged ‘state-linked’ criminal gang

Journalist faces disinformation charges after reporting on alleged ‘state-linked’ criminal gang

Rabia Önver faces an arrest warrant and an order for the seizure of her digital equipment following her coverage of recent criminal activities in the Kurdish-populated city of Hakkari.

24 September 2024

Kurdish journalist’s home raided following report on alleged police-gang collusion in Hakkari

Kurdish journalist’s home raided following report on alleged police-gang collusion in Hakkari

Rabia Önver reported on a criminal gang in Hakkari, which allegedly coerces young women into drug use and prostitution and while authorities turn a blind eye.

23 September 2024

‘Iraqi Kurdistan is becoming a dangerous place for journalists’

‘Iraqi Kurdistan is becoming a dangerous place for journalists’

Two leading journalism groups, RSF and CPJ, have condemned the suspected Turkish drone strike that killed two journalists and injured another in the region.

Court blocks social media accounts of two Kurdish journalists

Court blocks social media accounts of two Kurdish journalists

The court provided “national security” reasons for the decision.

Kurdish journalists sentenced to prison for ‘creating pro-PKK perception’

Kurdish journalists sentenced to prison for ‘creating pro-PKK perception’

The court's detailed ruling has revealed that it did not apply the principle of ‘benefit of the doubt’ for the defendants.

Kurdish journalist Sadık Topaloğlu arrested on charge he already received sentence for

Kurdish journalist Sadık Topaloğlu arrested on charge he already received sentence for

A new case was filed against Topaloğlu based on the statements of a confessor who already testified in the original case against him, says his lawyer.

18 July 2024 Hikmet Adal

Kurdish journalist dies after injury in suspected Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq

Kurdish journalist dies after injury in suspected Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq

A vehicle carrying journalists was hit by a drone strike while traveling on the Sinjar-Mosul road.

CPJ calls for investigation into drone strike on Kurdish journalists

CPJ calls for investigation into drone strike on Kurdish journalists

The Kurdistan Regional Government has said that Turkey was responsible for the attack.

Eight Kurdish journalists sentenced in ‘terror’ case

Eight Kurdish journalists sentenced in ‘terror’ case

The journalists’ lawyers have argued that the case relied heavily on anonymous witness testimonies and lacked substantial evidence.

Six Kurdish media workers sentenced on 'terrorism-related' charges

Six Kurdish media workers sentenced on 'terrorism-related' charges

The journalists were initially sentenced in 2019 but appealed the verdict, leading to a retrial.

Confessor's claims debunked in Kurdish journalists' trial

Confessor's claims debunked in Kurdish journalists' trial

The confessor, who had previously claimed to personally know a journalist, admitted during this hearing that they had only seen them on television.

Journalist Esra Solin Dal strip searched, kept in solitary confinement for 11 days

Journalist Esra Solin Dal strip searched, kept in solitary confinement for 11 days

Esra Solin Dal's s requests to be placed in a communal cell have been rejected. She was subjected to strip search subsequent to her arrest.

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