Enduring Silence Beyond Release
November 25, 2025
Prison Release Delayed for Turkish Journalist Ali Barış Kurt
November 25, 2025
November 25, 2025 – Turkey –
A criminal case has been launched against two Kurdish journalists — Öznur Değer and Osman Akın — for publishing a report that alleged torture by security forces during a 2024 raid in the village of Marînê, in the Nusaybin district of Mardin province. According to the indictment, their article accused a senior gendarmerie commander of torture, naming Kamil Aksoy, and the prosecutor’s office argues that the piece constitutes “targeted defamation” rather than protected journalism.
The report in question was published on July 16, 2024. It detailed serious allegations, including torture during a gendarmerie operation in Eskihisar, a neighborhood of Mardin. Almost a year later, the public prosecutor filed charges, prompting the 2nd Heavy Penal Court in Mardin to accept the indictment. The first hearing has been set for February 17, 2026.
Both journalists occupy significant positions in Kurdish media: Öznur Değer serves as a news editor at a pro-Kurdish agency, while Osman Akın is a former editor-in-chief at a Kurdish daily. Their reporting formed part of broader journalistic efforts to expose alleged abuses by security forces — efforts that have repeatedly come under pressure in Turkey’s southeast region.
This indictment arrives within a larger wave of repression against pro-Kurdish media in Turkey. Rights-watchers note that over the past decade, reporting on Kurdish issues, military operations, and security forces has often been met with criminal complaints, arrests, or closure of media outlets. The move against Değer and Akın is seen by many as part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent and independent reporting.
The case raises alarm among press-freedom advocates. Prosecuting journalists for reporting alleged torture undermines the role of the media as a watchdog, particularly in conflict-affected or marginalized regions. Observers warn that such legal actions contribute to self-censorship, erode trust in independent reporting, deepen media marginalization, and further isolate Kurdish voices in Turkey.
Reference –
Turkish prosecutor indicts 2 Kurdish journalists over reporting on military torture allegations
