Journalism groups condemn detention of five journalists in house raids

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Press freedom organizations have denounced today's detention of five journalists for sharing a news report on Twitter and retweeting the report.

Fırat Can Arslan, the journalist who reported on a married judge and prosecutor presiding over the same trial, which was a "terror"-related case against 18 Kurdish media workers, has been remanded in custody. He is charged with "marking counterterrorism officials as a target."

The other journalists were detained during raids at their residences for merely retweeting Arslan's tweet about his reporting. Three of them, Sibel Yükler, Delal Akyüz and Evrim Deniz, have been released whereas Evrim Kepenek, bianet's women and LGBTI+ news editor, is still undergoing legal proceedings. She will be referred to the prosecutor's office tomorrow.

Erol Önderoğlu, the Turkey representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), expressed concern over the "criminalizing" approach towards journalists for reporting news. He also emphasized that handcuffing Kepenek with plastic handcuffs was "unacceptable."

"One news article, and especially one of this nature, shouldn't lead to such criminal treatment of journalists," said Önderoğlu. "Turkey needs to stop being a country where journalists are systematically detained."

Premeditated punishment

Gökhan Durmuş, head of the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), said such practices targeting journalists stigmatize them and undermine their credibility. He called for the immediate release of the detained journalists and demanded that the reasons for their detention be made public.

"These detentions of journalists at dawn without any explanation and under secrecy are unacceptable. These operations are criminalizing journalists and undermining their credibility in public.

"This premeditated punishment policy needs to stop. The detained journalists should be released immediately, and the grounds for their detentions should be made public to avoid further unjust treatment of journalists."

"Arbitrary house raids"

Faruk Eren, head of DİSK/Basın-İş media workers' union, pointed out that the pressure on journalists has exceeded the limit of tolerance. He condemned the arbitrary house raids, arrests, and even acts of violence by security forces against journalists.

"Arbitrary house raids, arrests, and even what could be considered direct violence from security forces are becoming routine. Journalists will not grow accustomed to such oppression," he said.

"Detention for reporting on appointments"

The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association also voiced its concerns, stating that the arrests raise serious questions, especially when journalists are targeted for reporting on appointments and assignments made by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK).

"According to our information, the journalists were detained for sharing a news article about the transfer of duty locations of the trial's prosecutor and the judge, who were part of the investigation involving 18 journalists in Diyarbakır," it said. "If this operation is based on such grounds, it demands serious consideration and evaluation."

The Journalists Association of Turkey (TGC) also joined in expressing concern about the increasing pressure on journalists and the violation of press freedom. "ournalists should not be detained for simply doing their job of reporting news. This systematic obstruction, censorship, and pressure must be resisted collectively. Our fellow journalists should be released as soon as possible." (AÖ/HA/Mİ)