On Wednesday, in İstanbul, two prominent journalism organisations and rights groups gathered at the Human Rights Association (İHD) office to demand the release of seven journalists and two citizens arrested following a protest honouring reporters killed by a Turkish drone strike in northeast Syria. Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and the Mezopotamya Women Journalists’ Association (MKG) described the arrests as an alarming escalation in the crackdown on press freedom.
“Journalism is under siege in Turkey,” said Ezgi Çadırcı, a journalist from Yeni Yaşam. “While drug lords and corrupt officials thrive, journalists are silenced, beaten, and jailed. Being a journalist has become more dangerous than being a mob boss.”
The arrests occurred during a commemoration of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, journalists killed in drone strikes attributed to Turkish forces. Advocacy groups planned to protest the killings on 21 December but were denied permission. When the group assembled, police reportedly used excessive force, arresting participants and detaining them under harsh conditions.
“Those who expose the truth are punished, while those who commit atrocities enjoy impunity,” said Gülseren Yoleri, chair of İHD’s İstanbul branch. “The prohibition of peaceful assembly and the mistreatment of detainees represent a flagrant violation of Turkey’s constitution and international human rights standards.”
Rights defenders highlighted broader patterns of targeting journalists across conflict zones. In recent months, five journalists, including Yazidi reporter Murad Mirza İbrahim, have been killed in drone strikes in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). “This is not just about individual journalists but the silencing of truths that make oppressive regimes tremble,” said Çadırcı.
Advocacy groups, including trade unions, feminist collectives, and socialist organisations, rallied in support, emphasising that attacks on press freedom undermine society’s access to justice and information.
“We will defend the honour of journalism under all circumstances,” declared Çadırcı. “Our arrested colleagues must be released immediately.”
The event ended with chants of “Free press cannot be silenced”, as participants vowed to continue their struggle for media freedom.
