İSTANBUL - Journalists with the free press protesting the detention and arrest of their colleagues told that they will never submit to the pressures and continue to bring the truth to the people.

 

Journalists with the free press made a press release at the Human's Rights Association office in Beyoğlu, İstanbul to draw attention to the detentions and arrests of their colleagues. A banner was hung on the wall that read "Free press can not be silenced, we are here doing our jobs". Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MPs Züleyha Gülüm, Hüda Kaya and Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu participated at the event.

 

Reading the press release on behalf of the journalists, Emre Orman called for an end to the pressures on the free press.

 

Responding to the raids on the houses of the members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and Etkin News Agency reporter Pınar Gayıp, and their detention, Orman underlined that the digital materials, cameras, hard disks and the 6.600 TL money was confiscated when ETHA was raided.

 

'WE DEFEND THE RIGHT TO RECIEVE NEWS'

 

Drawing attention to the fact that Gayıp and Temel had been subjected to detentions and arrests many times before, Orman said, “This latest operation shows us once again the costs of shouting the voice of truth fearlessly in this country. As journalists, we are aware that these attacks are neither the first nor the last. We, who try to uncover the truth that have been covered up many times in this country, are defending the right to recieve news against the pro-government media. And to the extend that we defend this, we are exposed to the attacks of the government."

 

'TURKEY IS THE JAILER F JOURNALISTS'

 

Orman recalled that Mesopotamia Agency reporters Adnan Bilen and Cemil Uğur, Jinnews reporter Şehriban Abi and journalist Nazan Sala were arrested for breaking the story about the two villagers thrown from a military helicopter and Mesopotamia Agency reporter Mehmet Aslan was also arrested for the stories he wrote about the situation of the prisoners and hunger strikers last week.

 

Underlining that Turkey has become the second biggest jailer of journalists, Orman said: "At least 90 journalists are behind bars in Turkey right now. It has become very ordinary for free press workers to be targeted by the government. But we won't get used to it. We want to emphasize one more time that we are here and we are doing our jobs despite the pressure of the AKP- MHP government. We are the followers of a very honourable history. We are the voice of those who never bowed down" and called for the release of the journalists currently detained or arrested.

 

GÜRBÜZ: WE MAKE THEM UNCOMFORTABLE

 

Underlining that the police broke into their office like a thief, Etha editor Nadiye Gürbüz told that all of their materials were confiscated. Gürbüz said: "As the socialist press workers, we have been detained and arrested many times before and the reason we got arrested or detained have always been the work we do. We make them uncomfortable."

 

KAYA: WE WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE THE TRUTH

 

Stating that Mehmet Aslan was detained and arrested last week, Mesopotamia Agency Reporter Naci Kaya said that he was also at home during the home raid and that the fact that the books and notes confiscated from their house being considered an evidence of a crime is a violation of the freedom of thought and expression. Kaya said: "The fact that these notes and books are considered to be the evidence of us 'being a member of a terrorist organization' refutes the accusation by itself. The stories we write are always considered to be the evidences of a crime. Dozens of our friends are in prison. We will continue to bring the truth to the people under any circumstances, under the tree where Musa Anter took his roots."

 

GÜLÜM: FREE PRESS IS THE VOICE OF JUSTICE

 

HDP MP Züleyha Gülüm who underlined that pro-government media does not constitude an obstacle for the government, said: "On the other hand, there is the free press that is trying to make the voice of the truth be heard. They wre working despite the persistent pressure of the government. They are the voice of democracy and justice."

 

Speaking at last, CHP MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu said that they will always be in solidarity with the free press.