Turkey Arrests Five Kurdish Journalists in Raids on Media Outlets

January 17, 2025 – Turkey – 

Turkish police raided two Kurdish media organizations, detaining five Kurdish journalists as part of a broader crackdown on independent and opposition press. The arrests occurred in multiple cities, including Istanbul, Diyarbakır, and Van, and involved coordinated raids on journalists’ homes and offices.

During the arrests, police reportedly used force, particularly during the detention of Hacıoğlu, whose professional equipment was confiscated. A 24-hour confidentiality order was imposed, preventing lawyers from accessing their clients or the case files, effectively silencing legal recourse in the critical early hours of detention.

These arrests are the latest in a wave of detentions targeting Kurdish journalists in Turkey. Press freedom groups have documented a pattern of repression where Kurdish media professionals are routinely charged under anti-terrorism laws, often without clear evidence or transparent legal processes. According to the International Press Institute (IPI), January 2025 alone has seen at least nine journalist arrests, six prison sentences, and over 20 ongoing investigations into media workers.

Since the failed 2016 coup attempt, the Turkish government has intensified its crackdown on dissent. Hundreds of journalists have been imprisoned, dozens of media outlets shut down, and press accreditations revoked, especially targeting pro-Kurdish, opposition, or critical media.

The recent arrests also raise concerns about a pre-election crackdown, as Turkey approaches key national elections in March 2025. Watchdogs worry that the government is using state power to silence dissent and restrict public access to independent information during a politically sensitive period.

Reference –

Turkish police target two media companies, detain five Kurdish journalists