People closely connected to the outlet’s owners try to silence reporter’s investigation into fatal car crash

Location: Turkiye, Istanbul
Date: May 10, 2024

Women Press Freedom is outraged that media outlet Demirören News Agency (DHA) pressured reporter Rojda Altıntaş not to publish a story, about a car accident involving the 17-year-old son of writer Eylem Tok, by people connected to DHA's powerful owners, Demirören Holding. By urging the reporter not to publish, DHA is undermining the fundamental principle of editorial independence. Journalists should be free to report on matters of public interest without fear of external pressure or interference. Women Press Freedom commends Rojda Altıntaş for speaking out against the attempts to censor her, despite the consequences she may face. We urge Demirören News Agency (DHA) and its owners to cease pressuring the journalist and allow her to report on the story without intimidation.

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On May 6, 2024, Rojda Altıntaş, a Demirören News Agency (DHA) reporter, publicly disclosed the undue pressure and interference she faced while attempting to report on a significant news event concerning a car accident.

In a tweet, Altıntaş detailed her experience of facing intimidation from the management of her media organization and other influential circles when seeking to obtain and publish new information regarding the "Eylem Tok" incident, which has garnered substantial public interest.

Altıntaş says she was contacted by the driver of Revna Demirören, the spouse of Yıldırım Demirören, who heads Demirören Holding, Turkiye's largest media company and owner of DHA, Altıntaş' employer. 

The driver instructed her not to publish a story concerning an incident in which a 17-year-old was implicated in a fatal car accident resulting in one death and multiple injuries in March 2024. This accident involved the son of writer Eylem Tok, who fled to Egypt and then to the United States to evade legal consequences. Arrest warrants have been issued for both Tok and her son.

Altıntaş explains that due to concerns for her family's safety, she remained quiet for eight weeks about the attempts to censor her reporting. She decided to break her silence by sharing videos and audio recordings of the conversation with those pressuring her. 

She announced that her lawyer, Mehmet Zengin, will document all attempts to interfere with her work and pursue legal action against those responsible, irrespective of their identity or affiliations. 

While acknowledging the risk of potentially losing her job for her actions, Altıntaş states that she is not afraid and will continue her reporting through alternative means. Days later, on May 10, she announced she had resigned from her position at DHA and would continue to report on her YouTube channel.

Women Press Freedom applauds Rojda Altıntaş for bravely speaking out against the coercion she faced to suppress her reporting. The Demirören family, influential owners of DHA, wield considerable power and wealth, with close affiliations to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and involvement in the energy, mining, and construction sectors. The attempt to suppress information regarding a high-profile figure and a fatal car accident is deeply concerning. Such actions erode public trust in journalism and cast doubt on the independence and integrity of the media. The Demirören News Agency must respect journalistic autonomy and refrain from any further efforts to obstruct journalists' work.  We call upon relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this incident and hold accountable those responsible for perpetrating press censorship and intimidation.

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