Jailed women journalists: We will keep writing the truth
The women journalists, who have been jailed as part of an investigation based in Ankara, say that they will keep writing the truth under any circumstances, “We are the successors of Gurbetelli Ersöz”.
News Center - Nine journalists, who were detained on October 25 as part of an investigation based in Ankara, were sent to prison on October 29 for their reports and social media posts. Five of the jailed journalists are women. Women journalists sent messages from Sincan Women’s Closed Prison through their lawyers.
The messages of the women journalists are as follows:
Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Berivan Altan: Their aim is to silence journalists, the free press. But the free press, which has not been silenced since the 90s, despite the unsolved murders, cannot be silenced by jailing journalists. We will maintain the tradition of the free press along with dozens of our colleagues.
Jinnews reporter Öznur Değer: The tradition of the free press will continue to write the truth despite pressure, arrests and attacks. We are the successors of Gurbetelli Ersöz. We will continue to write even though we are held behind bars. The free press cannot be silenced.
Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Ceylan Şahinli: The place we are in will not prevent us from doing journalism. As the successors of Apê Musa, we will continue to write.
Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Diren Yurtsever: We are held behind bars because we are journalists. What we do is not defend ourselves but journalism. We expect the solidarity of our colleagues and people from all strata while the crackdown on journalism has been recently intensified. A perception operation has been carried out. But the aim is to cover up the facts. We say, “The free press cannot be silenced”. We are fine. We would like to thank everyone who shows solidarity with us. We will continue to write no matter where we are.
Jinnews reporter Habibe Eren: On the 99th anniversary of the Republic, I was jailed along with my colleagues as a result of a mise-en-scene. We know that the arrests of journalists will continue. But history repeats itself, not just for us. While doing journalists, we witnessed many things, we saw how police detained us by using torture. History will repeat itself for them, too. As women journalists, we will continue to write the truth for our people. Altogether, we will have a free future.