Speaking as to the detention of journalists in house raids in four cities, professional journalism organizations have stated, “Our colleagues were detained because they are journalists, they must be released immediately”

AZIZ ORUÇ

Several people, including journalists, were detained in house raids in the morning hours of 26 November in Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakır and Batman as part of an investigation launched by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Roza Metina and Ahmet Sümbül, chairpersons of the Mezopotamya Women Journalists’ Association (MKG) and director Ardin Diren were detained in house raids in Diyarbakır; journalist Mehmet Üçar in Batman; Bilal Seçkin and Suzan Demir in Ankara, Bilge Aksu and Erdoğan Alayumat in İstanbul. The house of journalist Gülcan Dereli in İstanbul was raided, but Dereli was not detained as she was not at home. 

The police raided the former residence of bianet reporter Tuğçe Yılmaz, but when they could not find her at home, they called her by phone and summoned her to the police station to give a statement. Yılmaz went to Kadıköy District Security Directorate with her lawyer Deniz Yazgan Şenay. Upon the prosecutor's order, Yılmaz was sent to Eskişehir.

Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) General Secretary Banu Tuna, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-Chair Selman Çiçek and Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) Executive Aysel Işık spoke to Expression Interrupted.

Tuna reacts to confidentiality decision

Banu Tuna said the following: “Unnecessary confidentiality orders on files, like many other practices, have become one of the methods used by this repressive period to narrow the space for rights. Journalists who would go and testify upon invitation are detained in house raids, in the early hours of the morning, and confidentiality orders are issued on their files, just to create an atmosphere of suspicion. They are prevented from meeting with their lawyers. This method is used both to intimidate and frighten them and to create a prejudice in the public opinion. We want to be informed immediately about the condition of our colleagues and what they are accused of, they should be released as soon as possible.” 

Işık: “The government is showing the judicial stick to journalists”

Stating that massacres of women and children take place every day in the country, Aysel Işık said, “While women take to the streets and raise their voices for the perpetrators to be punished and the tenders to end, the government puts pressure on the media to silence this voice and prevent this voice from reaching the society. It is openly showing the judicial stick to journalists. Not satisfied with this, the government uses violence against our journalist friends, detaining and arresting them. Today, many of our journalist friends were detained after their homes were raided. We know that our friends are being detained over their journalistic activities.”

“The government especially targets women journalists”

“Our MKG President Roza Metina is among the detained journalists,” Işık said, adding that everyone have closely followed Roza Metina and witnessed her journalism. Işık continued her remarks as follows: “Our friend has been systematically detained by the judiciary. We know the reason for this very well. The government is especially trying to silence the voices of women journalists. The government is trying to silence women journalists through detention and arrest to cover up the truth. But this effort of the government is futile. As women journalists, we will not be silent today as yesterday against the threats hurled at us on the floor of the Parliament and the violence in the field. We will respond to those who think we will compromise on the truth with our cameras and pens.”

“Let's protect journalism”

Calling on professional organizations, Işık concluded her remarks by saying, “The day is not a day of silence, but a day to stand up for truth journalism and respond to attacks on the free press by uniting in a common line of struggle.”

Çiçek: “They will not get results with detentions”

Selman Çiçek stated the following: “Our friends were detained in house raids in the morning. Seven of our colleagues have been detained so far. We do not know why our colleagues have been detained. But there is one fact we do know; it is journalism that is being detained here, journalism that is on trial. The free press is being targeted. The free press is being targeted because it fights for the truth to be made public. The understanding that aims to obscure the truth with detentions will not get results today as it did yesterday. Therefore, we must increase solidarity. Underlining boldly together; 'journalism is not a crime'.