News Center- Two journalists, Nurcan Yalçın and Derya Us, were taken into custody in dawn house raids conducted in Amed (Diyarbakır) on Monday. The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (Turkish: Dicle Fırat Gazeteciler Derneği, DFG) has released a statement, demanding immediate release of the journalists.

“Although the reason for their detention has not been announced yet, we know that it is an attempt to criminalize our profession,” the statement said.

 ‘Release the journalists’

Reminding that Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Esra Solin Dal and Mehmet Aslan and journalist Erdoğan Alayumat were sent to prison in April 2024 as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the statement said, “"Esra Solin Dal was subjected to strip search and she is still held in solitary confinement.” Approximately 40 journalists and media workers have been separately arrested in house raids conducted for two years, according to the statement.

“These house raids aim to silence Kurdish journalists. They aim to prevent us from doing our jobs. Despite all kinds of oppression, Kurdish journalists never give up writing the truth and they will continue to struggle. Our struggle will continue to seek the truth and report it to the public. We call on all professional organizations and our colleagues to be in solidarity with journalists to protect journalism. Journalism is not a crime. Release the journalists.”