Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG) announced the "2025 Rights Violations Report on Women Journalists in January". The report, which was prepared with the help of national and local press organizations, emphasised that systematic pressures on journalists are applied more severely not only because of their professional activities, but also because they are women. Noting that media outlets were shut down, reporters working in the field were detained on arbitrary grounds and physical-psychological violence against journalists increased, the report stated, "These attacks on press freedom are part of the effort to silence journalists. However, journalists in pursuit of the truth will continue to do their job despite all kinds of pressure."

 

The report stated that threats against journalists are not limited to state pressure and reminded that Semra Demirelli, a local television reporter in Xarpêt, was shot and seriously wounded by a man and died after 49 days of struggle for life.

 

In the report, it is stated that the pressures against journalists in prisons have become systematic, and reads, "Journalists' voices are also being restricted in the digital field. JINNEWS' Instagram account was closed down, its new accounts were repeatedly censored and access to its X (Twitter) account was blocked. Journalists' visibility is also being restricted on digital platforms. However, neither the pressures in prisons, nor the restrictions on the streets, nor digital censorship will silence journalists. At the same time, 31 virtual media accounts were blocked in January on the grounds of 'protecting national security and public order', including Mezopotamya Agency's @MAturkce with 264 thousand followers, JINNEWS News Agency's @jinnewsturkce with 168 thousand followers, and @yeniyasamgazete with 125 thousand followers."

 

The report called for solidarity with all those who defend the free press and said, "The free press cannot be silenced. Detentions, arrests, pressures and violence against journalists must end immediately. We will never give up writing the truth, defending the truth and continuing the struggle of journalists. From the expatriates to Gülistan, from Deniz to Hêro, Cihan... Women journalists are everywhere."

 

9 JOURNALISTS UNDER ARREST

 

The report reminded that 3 journalists' houses were raided, 7 journalists were detained and 4 journalists were arrested in January, 3 journalists were subjected to ill-treatment, one journalist was threatened and 2 journalists were prevented from following the news. The report stated that 9 imprisoned journalists were also subjected to rights violations. 2 journalists were prosecuted and 3 journalists were sentenced to 8 years and 3 months in prison. 17 journalists are still on trial and 9 journalists are under arrest.

 

LIST OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS

 

The report, which includes a list of imprisoned journalists, includes the names of imprisoned journalists as follows

 

* Elif Ersoy - Yürüyüş Dergisi Registrar

 

* Eylem Babayiğit – Güncel Production

 

* Hatice Duman - Atılım Gazetesi Owner and Editor-in-Chief

 

* Lütfiye Burcu Kara – Mücedele Birliği Newspaper

 

* Necla Demir Arvas -Former Concessionaire of Gazete Karınca

 

* Özden Kınık - Former TRT worker

 

* Rahime Karvar - Güncel Production

 

* Reyhan Hacıoğlu – Yeni Yaşam Newspaper

 

* Züleyha Müldür – Etkin News Agency