“Free press is targeted because of its significant role and influence on society,” said Roza Metina, President of the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG), following the arrest of six journalists on 21 January in Van (Wan), İstanbul, and Mersin. The arrests mark the latest escalation in a month of intensified repression, which has seen 13 journalists detained, two killed in a drone strike, and several independent outlets silenced through social media bans.
The wave of attacks began on 19 December when journalists Nazım Daştan and Cîhan Bilgin were killed in a drone strike in northeast Syria while covering local developments. Protests in İstanbul on 22 December against their killings led to the arrest of seven journalists and two activists. By 5 January, several independent media outlets, including Mezopotamya Agency, JINNEWS, and Yeni Yaşam, faced social media bans, further limiting press freedom.
“Free press is being targeted because it does not fulfil the orders of a monistic, misogynistic government and those who thrive on chaos,” Metina continued. “Nazım and Cihan were killed for reflecting the truth. Despite difficult conditions, they held onto their cameras and refused to retreat. Those who protested their deaths were arrested for declaring, ‘We will not bow down.’ These attacks will not stop us because our power comes from our history and struggle.”
Selman Çiçek, Co-Chair of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), highlighted the systematic nature of the oppression. “The detention of six colleagues yesterday is neither the first nor the last. Attacks on the free press are increasing. These figures only exist in countries lacking freedom of thought and expression. But as long as we continue to write the truth, the government’s mask will fall.”
Turgut Dedeoğlu, President of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Press Union, emphasised the broader implications. “Restricting journalists’ freedom of expression is both a direct attack on the press and a violation of the public’s constitutional right to information. These arrests punish journalism itself. We vouch for the integrity of our colleagues and their work.”
The escalating repression of the press in Turkey has prompted urgent calls from international organisations to defend journalists and uphold press freedom.
