Journalists in Istanbul united on Friday to voice their outrage over the strip search of Esra Solin Dal, a reporter with Mezopotamya Agency who was recently arrested and is currently in Bakırköy Women’s Prison.
The protest highlighted the treatment of Dal during her detention following a house raid on 23 April. Dal was arrested under accusations of ‘membership of a terrorist organisation’. Holding banners that read “Journalism is not a crime, strip search is torture”, the journalists condemned this practice as a breach of human rights.
“Esra Solin was subjected to a strip search, which is an act of torture and entirely criminal,” stated Serpil Ünal, a fellow journalist. She emphasised the severity of Dal’s mistreatment, noting that it included denial of basic necessities and isolation. “We reject this outright. Such actions are crimes against human dignity. Today’s free press remains a target of the authorities, with many journalists facing systematic attacks and imprisonment. However, we continue to practice journalism under all circumstances,” Ünal declared.
The event drew participation from diverse groups, including the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association and Peoples’ Democratic Congress. The protesters rallied not only in support of Dal but also to assert the broader implications for press freedom and human rights in Turkey. Ünal reinforced the gathering’s message, stating, “We remind everyone again: Journalism is not a crime. It is the strip searches that should be prosecuted.”
