spot_imgspot_img
Monday, May 19, 2025

JOURNALISTS COVERING TURKEY EARTHQUAKE DETAINED AND HARASSED

Date:

ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities must ensure journalists can cover the aftermath of the recent earthquake freely and safely, and should drop investigations into any members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.

Since a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and parts of Syria on February 6, killing tens of thousands, authorities in Turkey have detained at least four journalists, opened criminal investigations into two reporters and one commentator, and harassed or obstructed at least six other members of the press, according to news reports and journalists who spoke with CPJ.

“Turkish authorities should not interfere with the journalists reporting on the terrible earthquake that recently hit the southern parts of the country, and should allow them to inform the Turkish people and the world on the magnitude of this disaster,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. “Authorities should drop all investigations into members of the press, allow reporters to work freely, and ensure that journalists can work without fear of harassment.”

On February 7, the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office opened criminal investigations into journalist Merdan Yanardağ and commentator Enver Aysever, according to a report by the state-owned Anatolia Agency.

Authorities are investigating Yanardağ and Aysever for allegedly “provoking the people into animosity and hatred,” according to that report, which said the investigation into Yanardağ stemmed from his on-air comments criticizing the government’s response to the crisis he made as chief editor and anchor for the pro-opposition TELE1, and the investigation into Aysever, an author and commentator, was related to unspecified posts he made on social media. Aysever has 1.7 million followers on his Twitter account, where he frequently posts political commentary.

An Istanbul prosecutor questioned Yanardağ on February 10, and the journalist is banned from foreign travel while the investigation is pending, TELE1 reported. Aysever told CPJ via messaging app that authorities had not contacted him regarding the investigation as of Tuesday. If charged and convicted, they face between one and three years in prison.

Separately, authorities are investigating Mehmet Güleş, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, for allegedly “spreading misinformation,” according to news reports. Police detained Güleş in the southeastern city of Diyarbakır on February 8 while he was interviewing a volunteer rescue worker, and asked whether the volunteer had criticized the state’s reaction to the disaster. The investigation stems from that interview, which was not published. He also faces one to three years in prison if charged and convicted.

Police also briefly detained and questioned Volkan Pekal, a reporter for the leftist daily Evrensel, on February 7 for allegedly recording video without permission while interviewing victims at a hospital in the city of Adana. Separately, police detained and questioned Mahmut Altıntaş, a Mezopotamya reporter, and Sema Çağlak, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish news website JİNNEWS, in Şanlıurfa province on February 8 as they were filming a collapsed building because they allegedly did not have proper identification as members of the press.

Police in Diyarbakır also obstructed at least three journalists from covering the earthquake by barring their access to some areas, according to a report by Turkish nonprofit Media and Law Studies Association, which identified those journalists as Sertaç Kayar, a reporter for Sputnik Turkey, the Turkish arm of Russian state-funded news agency Sputnik; Arif Bulut, chief editor of local outlet Ajans Sur; and Sıddık Eren, a reporter for the Iraq-based Kurdistan 24 TV.

A police officer also kicked Ferit Demir, a reporter for the pro-opposition Halk TV, as he was following the rescue efforts in Malatya on February 9, causing him to fall and hurt his leg. And on February 11, freelance journalist Rabia Çetin tweeted that a group of village guards had threatened her in the province of Hatay and told her to leave, and Zübeyde Sarı, a reporter for the news website Kampana News, tweeted that she had been obstructed from recording video of the rescue efforts in Hatay.

Civilians have also harassed at least two journalists: an unidentified man shoved Serdar Er, a reporter of the pro-government news broadcaster CNNTürk, as he reported from the city of Adıyaman on February 11, reports said, noting he was unharmed. And in the city of Antakya, civilians verbally harassed Halk TV reporter Şirin Payzın on February 9, according to a report by her employer.

CPJ emailed Turkey’s Interior Ministry and the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office for comment but did not receive any reply.

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

SUSPENDED NOCAL BOSS ALLEGES UNITY PARTY DIVERTED OIL COMPANY FUNDS FOR POLITICS

MONROVIA – Roosterlyn Dennis, the suspended President and Chief...

SENATE RESUMES WITH FOCUS ON REFORM, OVERSIGHT, AND RESOURCE GOVERNANCE

MONROVIA – The President Pro Tempore of the Liberian...

ARCELOR MITTAL AFFECTED COMMUNITIES ISSUE 72-HOUR ULTIMATUM, REJECT COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE PARTICIPATION

BUCHANAN, GRAND BASSA COUNTY – Residents from communities affected...

POLICE UNDER FIRE FOR MISHANDLING INVESTIGATION INTO MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT PHEBE HOSPITAL COMPOUND

By Nukanah Kollie PHEBE, BONG COUNTY — The Liberia National...

STUDENTS AT SINJE CAMPUS PUSH FOR BACHELOR’S DEGREES DURING UL PRESIDENT’S VISIT

SINJE, GRAND CAPE MOUNT COUNTY – University of Liberia...

LIBERIA’S LEADERS MUST REJECT DANGEROUS RHETORIC BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

Liberia's hard-won peace must not be endangered by reckless...

LIBERIA’S DEMOCRACY FACES A CRITICAL MOMENT

The Supreme Court’s ruling on the Bill of Information...

A COMMENDABLE PLEDGE, BUT DEEDS MUST MATCH WORDS

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s address at the First Annual...

COMMENTARY

WHY FOLLOW A PR STRATEGY TO OVERCOME CRISES AND MAINTAIN BRAND VISIBILITY

Courtesy of Martin Blayon, an experienced Public Relations Specialist Misinformation...

THE LASTING LEGACY OF PRINCE JOHNSON’S DEATH AND THE PATH FORWARD FOR LIBERIA

By Lyndon J. Ponnie, Sr. The passing of former Liberian...

PRES. BOAKAI’S LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND LIBERIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS

-A Commentary Joseph Boakai's failure to lead has once again...

LATEST NEWS

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

USING THE PAST TO INFORM THE PRESENCE AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

My birthday message to the people of Liberia As I...

HOR IN UPROAR AS EMBATTLED SPEAKER KOFFA’S INFLUENCE EXPOSES GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES

By Socrates Smythe Saywon, Sr. Liberia’s political scene is currently...

LIBERIANS ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UP AND CDC

  An Opinion By Grace RK Guar Every six...

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link