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January 29, 2025 – Turkey –
In Amed (Diyarbakır), a powerful demonstration unfolded on January 29, 2025, as journalists and civil society rallied to protest escalating arrests and pressure on media workers in Turkey. Organized by the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG), the protest took place in front of AZC Plaza in the Ofis neighborhood.
Participants included dozens of journalists, leaders from the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) and DISK Press Union, MPs from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), and various civil society representatives. DFG co-chair Selman Çiçek, speaking in Turkish, condemned the government’s increasing crackdown, noting that “in this period of political and economic crises… the first target remains media workers.” He highlighted recent detention trends and cited Reporters Without Borders’ ranking of Turkey as “very bad” for press freedom.
Roza Metina, president of MKG, read the statement in Kurdish before Çiçek delivered the Turkish version. The protesters emphasized that detentions had become routine, revealing a systematic strategy to stifle press freedom and silence critical voices.
The protest in Amed is part of a broader pattern of escalating pressure on journalists across Turkey. Data reveals a surge in detentions, censorship, and legal threats against reporters, particularly those covering Kurdish issues or dissenting views. As Çiçek and Metina asserted, these tactics serve to suppress public scrutiny during times of unrest and economic instability. Turkey’s declining press freedom ranking underlines the urgency of the issue.
This act of solidarity in Amed highlights a resilient community of journalists and activists committed to fighting for their rights. It sends a clear message: media workers in Turkey will continue to resist state intimidation and demand an environment where journalism can be practiced freely and without fear.
Should you want further insight, I can provide historical context on press freedom in Turkey or explore similar protests in other regions.
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