Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG) made a written statement on the detention of 6 journalists during the attack on Wan (Van) Metropolitan Municipality. Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Bilal Babat and Mehmet Güleş, JINNEWS reporter Rabia Önver, journalists Medina Mamedoğlu, Behçet Bayhan and Ruşen Takva were detained during the police attacks against the municipality in the morning. 

 

DFG: RELEASE THE JOURNALISTS

 

Pointing out that the trustee policy is a usurpation of the will of the people, DFG reads: "Journalists who followd this usurpation of the people's will and the protests of the people against this usurpation were targeted; 6 journalists were beaten and detained. Journalist Mehmet Güleş was dragged from the ground by the police and subjected to violence. We do not accept neither the usurpation of the people's will nor the beating and detention of journalists. We demand the immediate release of our colleagues."

 

MKG: FREE PRESS CANNOT BE SILENCED

 

Statement of MKG reads: "Journalists following the vigil that started after the prison sentence given to Wan Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Abdullah Zeydan were subjected to police violence and detained for only fulfilling their duty to inform the public. The detention of journalists, including our members Rabia Önver and Medine Mamedoğlu, who were handcuffed behind their backs, is a clear attack on freedom of the press. We do not accept this unlawful intervention against journalists! Our colleagues must be released immediately and all pressures against the press must end. Free press cannot be silenced!"