Kurdish journalist Rabia Önver, known for her investigative work with JINNEWS, is facing prosecution under Turkey’s disinformation law after publishing reports on prostitution and drug trafficking networks in Hakkari (Colemêrg). Authorities accuse Önver of “publicly spreading misleading information” in a case many see as an attempt to stifle critical journalism.
Önver’s investigation uncovered criminal operations in Hakkari that allegedly involved individuals with connections to local authorities, including law enforcement and judicial officials. Her reports shed light on how figures like Ayşegül Akdoğan, accused of running prostitution and drug rings, have been protected by those in power, creating an environment of impunity.
Press organisations have condemned the charges, with many pointing to Turkey’s increasingly frequent use of the disinformation law to silence independent reporting. “This investigation is an attempt to muzzle the free press,” said Mehtap Işık, co-chair of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), after a press release outside Van Bar Association on 10 October. “Instead of investigating the criminal activities Rabia exposed, authorities are going after the journalist.”
The disinformation law, introduced in 2022, allows the government to prosecute individuals for sharing content that it deems harmful to state interests. Critics argue that the law’s loose wording has made it a tool for targeting dissent and curbing independent journalism.
“Rabia is not being charged for promoting misinformation; she is being punished for revealing uncomfortable truths about criminal activities and state complicity,” said JINNEWS reporter Öznur Değer. “Journalism is about exposing the facts, and Rabia’s work is a clear example of this.”
Önver has maintained her commitment to uncovering the truth despite the charges against her. “I reported on serious human rights abuses in Hakkari — information the public deserves to know. They want to bury these reports, but as the free press, we won’t be silenced,” she said.
The prosecution of Rabia Önver has once again highlighted the increasing pressures on independent journalism in Turkey. The disinformation law has been applied against journalists, activists and social media users who challenge the official narrative, especially when their work exposes government-linked corruption or human rights violations.
Press organisations continue to show solidarity with Önver, demanding that the charges be dropped and calling attention to the broader use of the disinformation law to curtail press freedom. As Turkey moves toward tightening its control over digital and media spaces, cases like Rabia Önver’s reveal the growing difficulties faced by those who report on the ground.
