Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Êlih (Batman) MP Zeynep Oduncu Kutevi prepared a report on the pressures faced by journalists and the journalism profession in 2024 titled "2024 Press Freedom Report: Anatomy of Silencing the Truth" report.

 

Zeynep Oduncu shared the data on the pressures faced by journalists in 2024 in the report and said: "Freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Turkey has been under siege by the AKP government. AKP's systematic policies have seen the free media as a threat and therefore preferred to silence journalists, keep the public unconscious and impose its own propaganda. The year 2024 has been one of the clearest indicators of this dark picture."

 

BRAVE WARRIORS OF MODERN TIMES

 

Pointing out that the pressures against journalists do not only target journalists Zeynep Oduncu said: "These attacks are directly aimed at the public's right to information. The AKP administration is almost saying; 'Only we determine the truth, the public should only believe what we present.' However, the truth cannot be destroyed by oppression. Journalists are brave warriors of modern times who do not give up their pens despite threats and continue to defend the truth."

 

The report includes the pressures and violations faced by journalists between 1 January - 31 December 2024. 

 

According to the report the balance sheet of the pressures faced by journalists in 2024 as follows: 

 

"*5 journalists lost their lives, 

 

*112 journalists were detained, 

 

*26 journalists arrested,

 

* Investigations opened against 60 journalists,

 

* 33 new cases were opened,

 

* 872 journalists were put on trial,

 

* 58 journalists were sentenced to a total of 135 years, 7 months and 28 days in prison,

 

* 261 thousand 820 TL fine was imposed,

 

* 240 threats, attacks and obstruction,

 

* A lawsuit was filed for 5 million 500 TL compensation."

 

'4 JOURNALISTS LOST THEIR LIVES WITH UCAVs'

 

"These are not just numbers; behind these numbers are lives, struggles and the silenced voice of a society. Even more serious, we are living in a period when oppression targets not only freedoms but also lives. Five journalists lost their lives, four of them in an attack by Turkish UCAV. It draws a dark picture where the free press is targeted. However, beyon the numbers, this table is a clear confession of a system in which the government cannot tolerate any reality other than its own," Zeynep Oduncu said. 

 

'FREE PRESS, FREE SOCIETY'

 

Lastly Zeynep Oduncu continued as follows: "As DEM Party, we see freedom of the press and freedom of expression not only as a right but also as an obligation. The future of a society depends on a free media and a government open to criticism. Democracy is only a dream without freedom of the press. We will fight for an end to these pressures on the press. We will work to abolish the pressures and penalties imposed on journalists and to build a Turkey where the media can operate freely. Because we know that a free press is not only the voice of journalists but also the voice of the people. A free press also means a free society. Behind every truth that is tried to be silenced, there is a stronger resistance. We stand by this resistance. Press freedom cannot be silenced, truth cannot be hidden, democracy cannot be stopped."