ANKARA - DFG Co-chairperson Dicle Müftüoğlu, who is imprisoned in Sincan Women's Closed Prison, called for the hearing of her imprisoned colleagues to be held on July 11: "We should shout together to protect the honor of journalism."

 

As part of an investigation carried out by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 22 people, 20 of them journalists, were detained in raids on houses and media outlets on June 8, 2022. Among those arrested, JINNEWS Director Safiye Alagaş, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DGF) Co-chairperson Serdar Altan, Mesopotamia Agency (MA) editor Aziz Oruç, Xwebûn Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Ali Ertaş, journalists Zeynel Abidin Bulut, Ömer Çelik, Mazlum Doğan Güler, İbrahim Koyuncu, Neşe Toprak, Elif Üngür, Abdurrahman Öncü, Suat Doğuhan, Remziye Temel, Ramazan Geciken, Lezgin Akdeniz and Mehmet Şahin were arrested 8 days later by the court. After 10 months, an indictment was prepared against 18 journalists, 3 of whom are pending and 15 of whom are imprisoned, demanding 7 years, 6 months to 15 years in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization". The first hearing of the journalists will be held on July 11 at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court.

 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chairperson Dicle Müftüoğlu, who was detained as part of an Ankara-based operation and arrested on May 3, wrote a letter in July entitled “A Call to Defend Journalism” regarding the hearing of the journalists that will be held in Diyarbakır on July 11.

 

'JOURNALISM PROFESSION IS TRIED TO PREVENT'

 

Stating that freedom of expression is getting worse instead of better with each passing day in Turkey, Müftüoğlu said: “Journalists have become inoperable due to the fines, censorship and access barriers given to media institutions. According to the data of professional press organizations, a new one was added to the bans by placing thousands of news with access barriers only in the first week of June. The existing picture has been further compounded with the 'Censorship Law', which was passed by the Parliament last year by the government. More precisely, a cover has been planted on the practices of power. Every step the government takes with the help of the judiciary and law enforcement is trying to prevent the profession of journalism.”

 

'MENTALTH WHO TRIES TO JUDGE JOURNALISTS WILL BE PROSECUTED'

 

Stating that according to the monthly data of the DFG, the number of journalists who are constantly in arrest has increased, Müftüoğlu said: “In June 2022, 20 of our friends were detained. 16 of them were arrested. Jin News Editor Safiye Alagaş was released in her first hearing because her file was separated. On July 11, 18 of our colleagues, 15 of whom are imprisoned, will appear in court. The mentality that tries to judge journalists will be prosecuted.”

 

'FREEDOM FOR JOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM'

 

Müftüoğlu said: “Let's all say 'freedom to journalists and journalism' in front of the Diyarbakır Courthouse on July 11. Let's see that there are not only 18 colleagues who are wanted to be tried, but the whole journalism profession is tried and sentenced to monopoly, so let's prevent this."

 

'I CALL THE PUBLIC TO SOLIDARITY'

 

Stating that Turkey's attainment of a democratic environment and freedom of expression and press can only be achieved by eliminating the reality of imprisoned journalists, Müftüoğlu said: "I am calling for open solidarity to all my colleagues and the democratic public in Sincan Women's Closed Prison, where I have been imprisoned for 2 months. We should shout together to protect the honor of journalism."