Türkiye must release detained journalists and activists immediately

SEENPM calls for the immediate release of 18 journalists and other professionals and human rights activists detained in several Turkish cities on 26 and 27 November.

Tuğçe Yılmaz of SEENPM member bianet was detained in Istanbul along with Erdoğan Alayumat (Freelance Journalist), Bilge Aksu (Freelance Journalist), and Suzan Demir (Gazete Duvar). In parallel, Roza Metina(Jinnews Kurdish Editor and President of the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association), Ahmet Sümbül(Freelance Journalist), and Ardin Diren (Filmmaker) were detained in Diyarbakır; Mehmet Uçar (Freelance Journalist) in Batman; Bilal Seçkin (Freelance Journalist) in Ankara; and Havin Derya in Antalya.

Many other individuals, including poet and columnist Hicri İzgören (Yeni Yaşam Newspaper Columnist), publishing coordinator Aver Yoldaş, cartoonist Doğan Güzel (Cartoonist), translator Ömer Barasi, and filmmaker Ardin Diren, were also detained as well as several politicians and human rights activists, a total of 18.

The arrests were announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on social media.

The 18 detained have been denied access to their lawyers, while the lawyers themselves have been prevented from obtaining information about the investigation due to a so-called “confidentiality order.”

The detentions and the lack of transparency about the operation is being conducted underline the continuing threat to freedom of expression in Türkiye, with the practice of abuse of antiterrorism legislation to silence human rights defenders likely to continue.

SEENPM joins the call by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and seventeen other press freedom and human rights organisations for Türkiye to “fulfill its obligations under the Press Law, its Constitution, and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The systematic harassment and intimidation of journalists must stop immediately.”

“We call on the authorities to end the oppression of journalists and unjust detentions, ensure their safety, and uphold freedom of expression. Additionally, we demand the protection of journalistic activities under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Journalism is a cornerstone of any democratic society and must be safeguarded against political interference,” the statement said.