Sending their messages via their lawyers, the journalists detained yesterday underlined that there is an attack against their profession, that they are insisting on the truth and they will never bow down.
Political parties, associations, trade unions, intellectuals and writers have issued messages of support stated that the detained TTB Central Council Chair Şebnem Korur Fincancı is not alone.
Diren Yurtsever told her lawyers about the impositions she was subjected to by the Turkish police since the moment she was arrested, including ‘posing with a Turkish flag’.
Journalist Berivan Altan, who met with her lawyers, said that police vests was brought to the police to take pictures before they brought her out of the building and they had to wait for it and the police told her, "We will force your head down, don't make it diffucult".
Condemning to the detention of 11 journalists in a police raid, professional organisations demanded the release of their colleagues. Attorney Veysel Ok said: "There is a growing condemnation state due to the allegations of chemical weapons, and this raid may be the result of the condemnation."
Seven journalists detained in Diyarbakır, Mardin, Van and Urfa as part of an Ankara-based investigation were transferred to Ankara.
Lawyer of the arrested Kurdish journalists Sevin Kaya says that journalists were tortured in a way that completely violates human rights. “We will file a criminal complaint after visiting our clients and reaching to further findings of torture, including the arrest procedure,” Kaya said.
Journalists and journalism organizations gathered in the Turkish capital to protest against the arrest of 11 Kurdish journalists.
The Turkish doctor became a target of President Erdogan and his coalition partner Bahçeli folowing her comments on Turkey’s alleged use of chemical gases against the PKK during the ongoing operations in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Journalist Derya Ren, who was detained in Diyarbakır early this morning, has been arrested.
Reacting to the detention of Mesopotamia Agency and Jinnews reporters, Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association said, "They will not achieve their goals with oppression policies. The free press will not bow down to these attacks."
Police raided our Ankara office and confiscated the MA microphone as a criminal element during the 6-hour searches.
Our reporter Zemo Ağgöz, who has a 45-day-old baby, was also detained during the raids on the offices and homes of our Ankara office employees.
A 24-hour lawyer restriction was imposed the 11 journalists detained in the Ankara-based investigation.
Demanding the release of the detained Mesopotamia Agency (MA) and Jinnews reporters, DFG said, "The free press will not back down and will not give up its struggle."