Turkish officials formally arrested [6] and jailed 16 Kurdish journalists on June 16 after detaining [7] 21 journalists for eight days without charges. Five of the original 21 were released [8]. According to Turkey's Media & Law Studies Association [9] (MLSA), the 21 journalists were originally detained on suspicion of "terrorism." The MLSA's Mehmet Ali Birand dismissed the validity of the charges, saying: "Most of these colleagues were working in media organs such as DİHA [news agency] and Özgür Gündem [newspaper]... None of these journalists participated in terrorist activities. None of these journalists carried a gun, pulled a trigger, or killed anyone." Turkish officials claimed [10] the arrests were part of an investigation into the "press committee" of the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Turkey consistently ranks low on Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index [13]. It is currently ranked 149 out of 180 countries, a four point drop between 2021 and 2022.
From Jurist [14], June 16. Used with permission.
See our last posts on the PKK [15] and the political crackdown [16] in Turkey.