News Center – Turkey is witnessing a growing decline in press freedom indicators, as authorities increasingly resort to the judiciary to launch investigations and file lawsuits against journalists — particularly those working in Kurdish media.

The Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG) released its report for October on Tuesday, November 4, shedding light on the violations journalists have been subjected to.

The report revealed cases of mistreatment and threats targeting several journalists, in addition to three being prevented from carrying out their media duties, four being investigated, and another four detained since January 4, 2023. It pointed to mounting pressure, surveillance, and judicial harassment, stressing that Turkish authorities continue to restrict press freedom through judicial and administrative means.

The Judiciary Has Become a Tool of Repression”

The report noted that Kurdish journalism in particular faces repeated investigations and lawsuits for nearly every piece of news published, reflecting the systematic suppression of freedom of thought and expression. It explained that the lawsuits filed, investigations launched, and verdicts issued demonstrate how the judiciary has become a means to criminalize journalism.

It emphasized that a mindset prioritizing political power over public interest continues to punish journalists for fulfilling their duty of delivering truth to the public.

The report further stated that the investigations against JINNEWS news director Öznur Değer and editor Dilan Papat, for their coverage of the death of young woman Rojin Kabaish, revealed the extent of pressure imposed on the press. Journalists were silenced through accusations of “targeting” and “spreading misinformation” while reporting on cases of violence against women — part of an escalating legal and digital siege.

It also highlighted that the decision by the Second Criminal Court of Peace in Van to block access to hundreds of news materials and 86 digital accounts serves as concrete evidence of expanding systematic censorship. The blocking of digital media accounts, closure of news websites, and deletion of content demonstrate that digital censorship has become normalized.

 “The Struggle for Press Freedom Continues”

In conclusion, the Association underscored the rise in violations against journalists, stressing that assaults and threats continue to go unpunished — posing a dual threat to both personal safety and the public’s right to information.

 

The report emphasized that violence is increasingly being used as an intimidation tool to prevent journalists from accessing news sources. The state, it noted, no longer merely targets media content, but the journalists themselves who strive to convey the truth.

Despite this harsh reality, the report affirmed that journalists continue their work with solidarity and determination. It concluded that censorship, intimidation, and punishment will not succeed in silencing defenders of free expression — asserting that writing the truth is itself an act of resistance, and that the struggle for press freedom will remain a voice that cannot be extinguished, no matter the obstacles