Dilruba Y., who was arrested over her comments in a street interview in which she criticized the Instagram ban, was sent to Izmir Aliağa Prison

A woman who criticized the access ban on Instagram in a street interview posted on the YouTube channel “Tüylü Mikrofon” was arrested on charges of “insulting the president” and “inciting hatred and hostility” on Monday.

The woman, named Dilruba Y., commented on the recent access ban on Instagram as well as the enactment of amendments to the Animal Protection Law and Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul convention in the video, posted on 8 August 2024 on YouTube channel Tüylü Mikrofon. Dilruba Y. said of the people who supported the Instagram ban and the killing of stray dogs: “You are idiots. You have surrendered all your freedom rights to a single person.”

She was detained during morning hours on Monday as part of an investigation launched by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and subsequently arrested by a Criminal Judgeship of Peace on Duty in the afternoon and sent to Aliağa Prison in Izmir.

The Izmir Bar Association reacted to the arrest of Dilruba Y. in a press statement and called for her immediate release: “Today, a person in Izmir was arrested just for expressing their thoughts in a street interview. We would like to recall that, contrary to common practice, ‘arrest’ is not a criminal sanction, but a security measure that can be applied in the presence of very strict conditions. Immediately put an end to the disproportionate, unlawful arrest and ‘detention’ aimed at silencing and intimidating members of society. Obey the law!”

Dilruba Y.’s arrest came only four days after the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) President Ebubekir Şahin posted a statement on social media regarding street interviews on 8 August and said that “such broadcasting activities” were “under the scrutiny of RTÜK.” Şahin stated that these interviews contained “only the opinions in line with the message desired to be given” and that they “lead to disinformation.”