News center-The Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) held a press conference to expose the increase in threats to women journalists in Diyarbakir. The statement was read in Kurdish by association chair Roza Metina, while the Turkish version was read by Semra Turan, a member of the MKG.

Semra Turan emphasized that the Free Press tradition defends the people’s right to information and added: “Women journalists, as the most dynamic elements of this tradition, both make the truth visible and advocate for the right to life of women and children. Today, the threats, investigations, and lawsuits targeting women journalists are in fact aimed at this tradition.”

Turan said that JINNEWS reporter Şehriban Aslan had been subjected to death threats, yet no effective measures were taken against the perpetrator. She also noted that JINNEWS news editor Öznur Değer was threatened after publishing a report, while Mezopotamya Agency reporter Zeynep Durgut was summoned to testify due to her reports exposing prostitution networks.

According to Turan, policies of impunity have fueled the attacks. She underlined that the free press is the conscience of the people and cannot be silenced, concluding with the following: “As MKG, we stress that we will continue to monitor all threats, investigations, and lawsuits against journalists. We will fight to end the policy of impunity and to stop the criminalization of journalism. We call on the entire public, women’s organizations, press professional organizations, and democratic mass organizations to expand solidarity.”