DİYARBAKIR - Free Journalists Initiative (ÖGİ) has released its Report on the Media Violation in January, 2018. The report says that seven of 17 journalists detained in have been jailed, and urged the journalists to act within the framework of the press release policies against the pressures of the government on the press.

 

Free Journalists Initiative (ÖGİ) has released its Report on the Media Violation in January, 2018. The report, which also contains information on the general situation of the press, stated that the journalists entered the New Year along with detention, arrests and blockade. The report points out that the arrest, detention and trial of journalists continue without slowing down and that journalists are always threatened by ruling power.

 

The report emphasizes that the pressure against journalists increases following Turkey’s attacks on Afrin and it says; “The 15 point ‘recommendation for press’ given to press representatives by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım with the principle saying, ‘the facts are killed before the war’ is an open threat to the journalism beyond the habit of the past governments that ‘forces the journalists to agree with them’.  Such threats against journalists have never got a result and they will not.

 

Press outlets and professional organization of journalists shouldn’t stay silent against this attitude of the government. As Free Journalists Initiative, we call on our colleagues to stop the government’s pressure on press and to act within the framework of the press release policies against the pressures of the government on the press. We demand our jailed colleagues to be released immediately.”

 

The Media Violation in January prepared by the ÖGİ is as follows;

 

*17 journalists were taken into custody.

 

*7 journalists were jailed.

 

*6 journalists stood trial; they have been sentenced to totally 10 years and eight months in prison.

 

*A fine imposed on a channel.

 

*4 news websites were blocked to access by Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). Website of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi Newspaper were blocked to access for eighth time (totally 51st time), website of Jin News was blocked to access for seventh time; websited of 1 Habervar and Mezopotamya News Agency were blocked to access once.

 

* Thieves entered the office of Evrensel Newspaper Diyarbakır Branch, their news equipment was stolen.

 

* Rohahi TV reporter was wounded while covering the operation of Afrin.