20/02/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
15 press professional organisations reacted to the detention of four journalists, including KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, on 18 February.
15 organisations, including international journalism organisations, issued a statement on the detention of Kaos GL Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, freelance journalist Elif Akgül, İlke TV programmer Ercüment Akdeniz and journalist Ender İmrek in an Istanbul-based operation on 18 February. It demanded the immediate release of the journalists.
The statement reads as follows:
"Release the journalists immediately!
As the undersigned press freedom and human rights organisations, we reject the detention of four journalists on 18 February 2025 and demand the immediate release of the detained journalists.
On the morning of 18 February, in the operation announced by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), journalists Kaos GL Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, freelance journalist Elif Akgül, İlke TV programmer Ercüment Akdeniz and journalist Ender İmrek were detained along with many artists and politicians.
The detention of journalists who follow the news and go to the courthouse almost every day to show solidarity with their colleagues on trial, instead of being called to testify, should be considered as an attack on journalists and the right to receive news.
Journalists were not allowed to meet with their lawyers; lawyers were prevented from receiving information about the investigation on the grounds of ‘restriction order’.
The detentions and the lack of information about the operation show that the ongoing threats against freedom of the press and the free practice of journalism are on the rise. In January, 18 journalists were detained and nine were arrested. In the first two weeks of February, six journalists were detained while covering the trustee protests in Van.
These names, who have been fighting for freedom of the press and freedom of expression for years, are journalists fulfilling their responsibility to inform the public.
The obligation of the state is to ensure and guarantee the free functioning of journalists, rights defenders and civil society.
Journalism is not a crime and cannot be silenced by any pressure or intimidation.
This attack on journalists must stop immediately and Yıldız Tar, Elif Akgül, Ercüment Akdeniz and Ender İmrek must be released unconditionally!"
The signatory organisations are as follows:
Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFGD)
Association of Journalists (Ankara)
Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG)
Women Journalists Association
Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS)
DİSK Basın-İş
KESK Haber-Sen
International Press Institute (IPI)
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
Association of Journalists
Punto24 Independent Journalism Association (P24)
Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Tags: human rights, media
