In the past two weeks, approximately 20 journalists have been detained in Turkey. As the latest example of this trend, two journalists were detained in Diyarbakır last night following raids on their homes.
Concerns over press freedom in the country are escalating. Journalists’ right to report critically is continuing to be restricted.
Nurcan Yalçın and Derya Us, residing in Diyarbakır, were detained as a result of the raids conducted in the city.
The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association issued a statement regarding the situation. The statement emphasized, “We do not know why journalists are being detained. However, journalism is not a crime.”
Rights groups routinely accuse Turkey of undermining media freedom by arresting journalists and shutting down critical media outlets, especially since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan survived a failed coup in July 2016.
Turkey is one of the world’s biggest jailers of professional journalists and was ranked 158th among 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) World Press Freedom Index published on May 3.
Such interventions targeting press freedom and journalists’ professional activities in Turkey continue to draw international attention. Calls for the protection of press freedom and freedom of expression are increasing. It is noted that such restrictions are concerning from the perspective of democratic values and human rights.
