DİYARBAKIR - According to the February report of DFG, 6 journalists were detained, 1 journalist was arrested and 6 journalists were sentenced to 26 years in prison.

 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) announced its February 2021 report on violations of the rights of journalists. In the report, which stated that the pressures against journalists did not slow down, it was stated that almost every day, journalists experience detentions, arrests, investigations, trials, imprisonments, attacks and threats.

 

The report said: "The judiciary does not stand in a position independent of the government in this regard, and even becomes dependent on the government when it comes to journalists. For every news, image or photo that disturbs the government, investigations are launched against journalists. Journalists stand trial almost every day. As mentioned in the report, we see that 72 journalists stood trial for 36 cases in February. We call on the prosecutors and judges to not use their power as a tool of punishment for press workers and remind them that journalism is not a crime but a duty."

 

Underlining that Turkey has become a prison for journalists, the report said: "A new one adds to dozens of our colleagues who are deprived of their freedom. The target here is not the individual journalists, but the journalism profession. It is not the press workers who are intended to be convicted, but the press itself. We state that we are aware of this and call for an end to arresting journalists on trumped-up terrorism charges.  We leave the current situation to the discretion of the public in these days when the "Human Rights Action Plan" and legal reform announced by President Erdogan are being discussed. If they are sincere in their plan to reform, they can start releasing journalists as a first step."

 

In the report that underlines it is futile to try to suppress the press, DFG celebrated March 8 International Women's Day. 

 

In the report, violations of the rights against journalists in February were listed as follows: “6 journalists were detained, 1 journalist was arrested, 2 journalists were attacked, 8 journalists were mistreated, 2 journalists were threatened, 2 journalists following a story were prevented from doing their jobs, 4 investigations were launched against journalists, 11 journalists stood trial,  6 journalists were sentenced to 26 years in prison, 2 journalists were ill-treated in prison, 174 news and 3 websites were blocked, 85 journalists in total are under arrest.