DİYARBAKIR –  According to DFG's "Report on Violations of Journalists", 11 journalists were detained, 4 journalists were arrested in October, 91 journalists stood trial for 47 files.

 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) announced the "Report on Violations Against Journalists for October 2020". In the report, which stated that Mezopotamya Agency reporters Adnan Bilen and Cemil Uğur, JinNews reporter Şehriban Abi and journalist Nazan Sala were detained and arrested "with revenge" for reporting on two citizens who were thrown from a helicopter in Van, it was said that only crime of the four journalists, and all journalists in jail in Turkey is their journalistic activity. 

 

ACCESS TO 42 NEWS WEBSİTES AND 9 WEBSITES WERE BLOCKED

 

The report that called for the release of the journalists said: "It is not a crime to write news, to reveal the facts, to get the truth to the people, and journalism as a whole. Only in October, 11 journalists were detained, 4 journalists were arrested in October, 91 journalists stood trial for 47 files and access to 42 news websites and other 9 news related websites were blocked with court order.

 

'THEY ARE AFRAID OF JOURNALISTS'

 

Stating that the government is trying to silence not only journalists but everyone who raise their voices in digital media, the report said: "All these violations in the field of press and freedom of expression show us that the rulers are still afraid of journalists. Despite the monopolization in the field of press and media, and the fact that a pro-government media has been created, a  handful of journalists and media outlets who still dare to tell the truth are seen as a danger."

 

11 DETAINED, 4 ARRESTED

 

In the rest of the report, DFG listed the violations against journalists as follows: 11 journalists were detained in October, 4 journalists were arrested, 4 journalists were threatened, 3 journalists were prevented from following the news on site by the law enforcement officers, investigations were launched against 2 journalists, 5 journalists were prosecuted, 5 journalists were sentenced to 7 years 11 months in prison and a fine of 3 thousand 650 TL.  It was noted that the trial of 91 journalists from 47 files continued and 91 journalists were detained.