DİHA Reporter Under Arrest

Dicle News Agency (DİHA) management condemned that their reporter Abdurrahman Gök is taken under police custody on March 23, in Siirt.

DİAH editorial manager Devrim Göktaş, requested the immediate release of their employees and demanded public support during a press conference in Diyarbakır.

Göktaş criticized the government's "hypocrisy," saying that despite lots of talk on democratization and improvements in human rights; there are serious obstacles before freedom of expression and freedom of press.

He noted that currently four reporters of DİHA are in prison. Gök was taken under custody while trying to cover the Newroz festivities. He's accused of "making propaganda of a terrorist organization." 

In Siirt, their employees are frequently threatened and harassed by the police, Göktaş said, adding that they have filed complaints before the Human Rights Association and the prosecution.

"The police's approach is related to the approach of the government. We're not even allowed to follow the PM's programs."

Human rights activists and NGO representatives declared their support for DİHA, during the press conference.(AÖ/AGÜ)