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June 26, 2025 – Turkey –
Mesopotamia Agency reporter Zeynep Durgut, known for her fearless coverage of Kurdish communities in southeastern Turkey, now faces intimidation after exposing a sex‑trafficking ring in Şırnak. Her February report detailed a long‑running investigation—initiated in 2013—into 25 suspects, including military non‑commissioned officers allegedly involved in trafficking women, girls, and minors from Syria’s Kurdish regions into forced prostitution.
Following publication, Durgut received multiple threatening phone calls from relatives of key suspect Kenan Tatar. One caller warned: “We know who you are…we will not let you go…this won’t go unpunished”. Undeterred, she lodged a criminal complaint with the Cizre public prosecutor.
Her case quickly became a rallying point. Pro‑press‑freedom groups, including the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association and Kurdish women’s rights movements, condemned the threats. At a solidarity gathering outside the Cizre courthouse, Zeynep reiterated her commitment: “The special war policy in Şırnak has been a reality for years. I will not be intimidated.” Participants ended the protest chanting, “The free press will not be silenced”.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern: Durgut and Kurdish reporters frequently endure arrests, equipment damage, and physical assault while covering protests and sensitive topics in the region. Such hostility stems from a broader, long‑standing crackdown on Kurdish and independent journalism, often framed as terrorism or threats to national security.
The threats reveal the persistent challenge journalists face: unveiling entrenched abuses tied to military and paramilitary structures in conflict‑affected zones. Durgut’s investigative work not only highlights human trafficking but also confronts power dynamics that facilitate such crimes. Her decision to press charges sends a clear message: journalists will not be silenced by intimidation.
Zeynep Durgut’s case underscores the vital importance of independent journalism in exposing hidden crimes, even at personal risk. It also illustrates the urgent need for effective legal and institutional support to safeguard reporters working in Turkey’s most dangerous and politically fraught environments.
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