DFG: Pressure on journalists increased in August

  • actual
  • 12:24 2 September 2024
  • |
img

AMED - According to the DFG August Rights Violations Report, pressures against journalists increased and two journalists were murdered as a result of these pressures. 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) announced its August Rights Violations Report. According to the report published on the website of the association; 2 journalists were ill-treated, 6 journalists were threatened, 2 journalists were attacked, 1 journalist was prevented from following the news in August.
 
According to the report, 3 journalists were investigated, 4 journalists were prosecuted, 1 journalist was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison. 35 journalists are still in prison, 16 journalists remained unemployed, 3 programs were suspended by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) and 2 channels were given administrative fines. The report emphasized that 10 broadcast bans were issued in August, 6 websites were shut down, 401 news articles were blocked and 88 virtual media content was blocked.
 
The report stated that journalists Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn lost their lives in the attack carried out by Turkey on August 23 in Seyîdsadik district of Silêmaniyê city in Federated Kurdistan Region. Emphasizing that the AKP-MHP government's attacks on freedom of expression and thought intensified in August, the report said: “The government, which carried the war against the Kurds to Federated Kurdistan, implemented a comprehensive repression policy against journalists with its partner KDP in Federated Kurdistan. While attacks against journalists intensified in July with the cooperation of the KDP, on August 23, Turkey bombed a civilian vehicle inside the borders of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq. Sulaymaniyah-based news agency Rojnews reported that journalists Hêro Bahadîn and Gulistan Tara were killed in the attack. The murder of the journalists was met with reaction in many parts of the world, especially in Kurdistan. The protests called on international organizations to take responsibility against these attacks by Turkey.” 
 
The report emphasized that journalists protested against the massacre of Tara and Bahadîn in many places, especially in Amed and Istanbul, and stated: “The protest organized by journalists in Amed was attacked by the police and many journalists were beaten. Despite all the attacks, the murder of two journalists was protested and the message was given that the Free Press will never remain silent in the face of all these attacks, that the Free Press will raise its voice even stronger and that the rights of journalists will be defended to the end.”
 
'CENSORSHIP CONTINUED'
 
The report reminded that Instagram, which has millions of users, was shut down on the second day of August, and that the platform was reopened after negotiations between the company and Turkish authorities. The report pointed to the impact of the policy against the Kurds on the closure of virtual media platforms and said: “Turkey has made censorship a bargaining chip against the Kurds, making it part of the attack on the Kurdish people's space for thought and expression.”
 
The report emphasized that during the process of Instagram's closure, Roblox was banned from access on the grounds that it “contained content that could lead to the abuse of children” and made the following assessment: “Due to the judiciary being on judicial vacation, many news websites and X accounts were banned from access by court decisions on duty in August, even though there was no trial in the judicial field. It should be noted that many of the news articles that were blocked were news about AKP figures. It was as if the corruption and rights violations committed by AKP figures were censored by the judiciary and the truth was tried to be hidden from the public.”
 
TV CHANNELS PENALIZED
 
The report reminded that 401 news articles were banned from access in August, 6 websites, including the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), were banned from access altogether, and Yeni Yaşam newspaper and 88 virtual media content, including journalists, were banned from access. The report stated that RTÜK fined many TV channels for the programs they broadcast.
 
35 JOURNALISTS IN PRISON 
 
August Rights Violations are as follows:  “While 2 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment, 6 journalists were threatened. While 1 journalist was prevented from following the news, 2 journalists were attacked. 3 journalists were investigated and 4 journalists were prosecuted. 1 journalist was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison. 35 journalists are still in prison. 16 journalists remained unemployed. RTÜK suspended 3 programs and fined 2 channels. 10 broadcast bans were issued. 6 websites were shut down, 401 news articles were banned from access and 88 virtual media content was banned from access.”
 

View More Articles

13/07/2025
09:17 Rights defenders received weapons inventory to prepare report
12/07/2025
12:08 Preparoty footage of the historical ceremony
09:55 Weapons destroyed, a historic step towards peace
09:38 95 years have passed since the Zilan Massacre
09:25 People await regulation in Parliament
11/07/2025
20:17 Davutoglu: What we must do now is leading the new era
20:12 I hope this step will bring good results says Erdogan
20:09 Bese Hozat: We took this step with a clear decision
17:07 Echo of historic ceremony in Amed: Demand constitutional guarantees for those who lay down arms
16:51 CHP Chair Ozel: Process must be managed in Parliament with swift and decisive steps
16:27 Names of participants in historical ceremony of PKK
16:15 We reached end of our work on commission says Parliament Speaker
16:04 Peace Mothers: The state has no more excuses, it must take action
15:32 Nechirvan Barzani: Important and encouraging step
14:36 People watch historical ceremony of PKK with rapt attention
14:13 Footage of historic ceremony of PKK
14:08 Critical threshold has been passed says AKP Spokesperson
14:07 Founding leadership of the PKK kept his promise says Bahceli
13:21 Details of historic ceremony: Legal regulations needed
12:51 KCK Executive Council Co-chair Besê Hozat led historic ceremony
12:44 First images from historic ceremony
12:29 Delegation leaves the site after witnessing historic ceremony
11:58 Peace and Democratic Society Group: We voluntarily destroy our weapons
11:26 Ceremony to be in Şikefta Casenê
11:12 DBP, HDK, and DEM Party arrive at ceremony site
10:58 People awaiting for the “Peace and Democratic Society Group”
10:02 ‘Dream Travelers’ to commemorated with events: Let’s unite on a common ground
10:00 International delegation heads to ceremony site
09:11 Citizens participating in public meetings: The state must take steps
09:10 Ali Bozan: It’s turn of the state to take steps
09:09 Spent 30 years in prison: Ill prisoners should be release for peace
09:09 Tuberculosis patient prisoner subjected handcuffed examination for 3 years
08:07 Delegation on the way to Sulaymaniyah for ceremony
10/07/2025
16:35 He releases from prison after 30 years: We will continue the struggle
16:04 Journalists heading to PKK ceremony: We will witness historic moments
14:35 Call against increasing repression by the Iranian regime
12:33 People set off from Amed for PKK's ceremony
12:22 Censorship of Ajansa Welat by Instagram
12:19 Future of process depends on the government's attitude says Journalist Er
10:42 She lost 2 children during conflicts: Commission must be established, steps must be taken
10:29 Sile Municipality Mayor Kabadayı detained
10:26 Call from Roboskî to mothers of soldiers: If we join hands, peace will come
10:13 KCK: We are determined to take the step Leader Apo has asked of us
09:27 Nature of Şirnex to be plundered with 10 new energy activities
09/07/2025
22:04 Ocalan's video message celebrated in North and East Syria
21:46 Details of the Damascus meeting: 10 March agreement must be fully implemented
21:21 Abdullah Aksu releases from prison after 31 years
21:05 DAANES and transitional government meeting ends
16:38 Mayor Karalar and Deputy Mayor Sahin dismissed
16:19 Roadmap of Ocalan for solution will contribute to shaping future says DBP Co-chair