January 17, 2025 - Turkiye, Istanbul, Van

Update January 20, 2025

Police detained six journalists— Reyhan Hacıoğlu (Van), Rahime Karvar, Necla Demir, Vedat Örüç, Welat Ekin & Ahmet Güneş (Istanbul)—in morning raids on their homes and media offices on January 17, 2025. Officers threatened them & seized digital materials, while production offices Martı & Güncel in Istanbul were searched for hours.

On January 20, 2025, the journalists were charged with "membership of a terrorist organization," a common accusation used by Turkish authorities to silence independent and Kurdish media workers.

Notably, the prosecutor did not take direct statements from the journalists before referring them to the Criminal Court of Peace, where a judge swiftly ruled for their arrest. The charges against them were based on their journalistic work, particularly their reporting and discussions on news platforms.

This crackdown is part of a growing pattern of systematic repression, with the Kurdish press facing relentless persecution. Women Press Freedom condemns these arrests, denounces the bogus charges against them and demands their immediate and unconditional release.