Journalists, who were detained within the scope of the operation against Amed-based Free Press employees and arrested on June 16,  2022 on the grounds of their professional activities, were released in the first hearing of the case against them after 400 days. Zeynel Abidin Bulut, Suat Doğuhan and Ramazan Geciken, who were released from prison, stated that the state wanted to suppress journalism with the arrests, and emphasized that they would continue to follow the truth against all oppression.

 

AN MISE-EN-SCENE OPERATION

 

Stating that they were arrested as a result of a mise-en-scene operation, Zeynel Abidin Bulut said: "The government's goal is to silence the Free Press. We were arrested because of this goal. They wanted to create silence by arresting us. They tried to scare the opposition journalists through us. During our detention, the situation of protecting the Free Press and the Kurdish press became clear. The support and solidarity with the Free Press are a source of morale. The continuation of his colleagues' work has rendered the government's fear policies ineffective."

 

THE RESISTANCE OF THE KURDISH PRESS

 

Stating that the massacre policy towards the society is carried out through journalists, Bulut said: "We went through torture, dozens of our friends were murdered, there were those who were arrested, dozens of our institutions were closed from the Kurdistan Newspaper to the 90s. The Kurdish press was brought to the brink of genocide in every period and was the target. There is a legacy of resistance we have inherited from Musa Anter and Ersöz from Gurbeteli. This culture of resistance does not allow the policies of the government to win. This resistance will continue, this tradition will continue in the Kurdish press."

 

'THE PRESSURE ON THE FREE PRESS FAILED'

 

Stating that there is always pressure on the Free Press, Journalist Ramazan Geciken said: "We have shown that this is also inconclusive, as in the cases before us. The pressure on the free press has failed since June 8, 2022, the detention process has been imposed on our families as a punishment."

 

'WE WILL PURSUE THE TRUTH'

 

Stating that they wanted Kurdish journalism to be prosecuted after their arrest, Journalist Suat Doğuhan said: "It was a trial that stemmed entirely from our professional activities and journalism. There is no tolerance for any contradictory voices as a monophonic media is wanted to be created in Turkey. This was a case brought about by intolerance. We found an environment where we could only express ourselves after being imprisoned for 13 month. We were released in this way. We experienced a bittersweet joy. Dozens of journalists are still in prison because of their news. The imprisoned journalists should be freed as soon as possible. Journalism is also a search for truth. We will continue to pursue the truth from now on. We will continue to work on it.”

 

MA / Müjdat Can