Turkiye: Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçın Face Baseless Terror Charges as Turkiye Intensifies Crackdown on Kurdish Journalists
Police raid homes of journalists, keep them in custody for over 24 hours
Location: Turkiye, Diyarbakır
Date: May 6, 2024
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the unjust charges against Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçın who were arrested by police for allegedly belonging to a terrorist organization. These detentions, following police raids on their homes, are a disturbing misuse of anti-terrorism laws to suppress critical journalism. Since the start of 2024, there have been at least three police raids targeting and detaining journalists working for Kurdish outlets in Turkiye. Such actions contradict the principles of a democratic state. The continuous crackdown on Kurdish journalists is unacceptable, and the Turkish government must be held accountable for this targeting. We demand the immediate dropping of all restrictions and charges against Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçınand call for an end to the persecution of Kurdish press.
WPF welcomes the judgment of the Fair Work Commission that found that broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf was fired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) following a social media post by Lattouf sharing a Human Rights Watch claim about Israel's actions in Gaza.
WPF is deeply concerned for the safety of press workers in Georgia following the disputed elections marred by violence, allegations of vote rigging, and claims of electoral misconduct. Throughout election day, journalists reporting at polling stations faced assaults, intimidation, and obstruction, highlighting the growing dangers for independent media covering politically sensitive events in the country
Women Press Freedom stands resolutely in solidarity with Arzu Yıldız, an investigative journalist from Turkiye forced into exile after facing persistent threats and persecution for her work. Yıldız's experience is emblematic of the broader crackdown on press freedom under President Tayyip Erdoğan's regime, where dissent is aggressively stifled. We unequivocally condemn the targeting and persecution of journalists by President Tayyip Erdoğan's government.
On May 6, 2024, a series of police raids, prompted by an investigation initiated by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s office, resulted in the detention of at least eight people, including journalists Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçın, Women Press Freedom reports.
The journalists stand accused of "being a member of an organization" and "violating the law on preventing the financing of terrorism."
Among the detainees are also members of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), a leftist political group focusing on Kurdish issues. While the specifics of the investigation remain undisclosed by authorities, Women Press Freedom believes it to be linked to an investigation dating back to 2021.
The detainees were taken to a Diyarbakır court a day later and released under restrictions. These include a travel ban, preventing them from leaving the country, and a requirement to report to police stations weekly.
Journalist Nurcan Yalçın was detained over allegations of sending money to her colleague Kibriye Evren. Women Press Freedom has documented multiple legal harassments against Evren, including detention in February 2024 on similar charges and imprisonment in 2018. Evren is currently awaiting trial after being released with restrictions. We have also worryingly documented the repeated persecution of Nurcan Yalçın, being subjected to multiple trials and terrorism-related charges for her reporting with the Kurdish press. In a previous incident in 2022, her home was raided, and she was detained on charges of aiding a terrorist organization.
The targeting of media outlets and journalists serving the Kurdish population in Turkiye is part of a broader pattern of systematic persecution and restrictions. Documentation by Women Press Freedom reveals a consistent history of press violations against Kurdish journalists since 2019. This recent instance marks the third wave of detentions and raids aimed at the Kurdish press in 2024 alone. On April 23, 2024, nine journalists from Kurdish media organizations were detained in coordinated operations across Istanbul, Ankara, and Urfa. Among them, Esra Solin Dal, Mehmet Aslan, and Erdoğan Alayumat remain in pre-trial detention, facing similarly dubious terror-related charges. In Izmir, the homes of six media workers were raided by police in February 2024. They all face charges of belonging to a terrorist organization, four of the journalists were placed under house arrest, and the other two were released with restrictions.
These actions are part of a recurring strategy by the Turkish government to suppress critical press and silence Kurdish media by falsely accusing them of terrorism. Despite claims of enacting anti-terrorism measures, Kurdish outlets and journalists are penalized merely for addressing issues relevant to their communities through the Kurdish language.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the baseless charges against Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçın. The restrictions imposed on them while awaiting trial on these unfounded and serious allegations are unjust. We call upon the courts to thoroughly and transparently examine this case, lifting the unjust restrictions and dropping the charges against them. The state must cease its persecution of Kurdish media and stop equating journalism with terrorism.
Women Press Freedom stands resolutely in solidarity with Arzu Yıldız, an investigative journalist from Turkiye forced into exile after facing persistent threats and persecution for her work. Yıldız's experience is emblematic of the broader crackdown on press freedom under President Tayyip Erdoğan's regime, where dissent is aggressively stifled. We unequivocally condemn the targeting and persecution of journalists by President Tayyip Erdoğan's government.
WPF vehemently condemns the Turkish drone strike on a media vehicle in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, killing journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn and injuring multiple others. Journalists covering conflict in the region have been repeatedly hit with Turkish strikes, resulting in multiple deaths. Deliberately targeting press in a conflict zone is a war crime
WPF welcomes the long-overdue release of journalist Derya Ren, who was wrongfully imprisoned on baseless terrorism charges.
WPF condemns the detention of journalist and media personality Gönül Yılman Saygan at İzmir Airport.
WPF condemns this attack and calls for an immediate and thorough investigation by Iraqi and Turkish authorities to find out why the Çira TV vehicle was targeted.
WPF is appalled by the decision of the Ankara court to convict eight journalists, including four women journalists, from the Kurdish news outlet Mezopotamya Agency.
Journalist Elif Akgül, former editor at Bianet, has been acquitted of terrorism propaganda charges related to her tweets.
WPF vehemently condemns the ongoing harassment and intimidation by Turkish authorities against Sevinç Özarslan, a Turkish journalist forced into exile in Germany.
WPF firmly condemns the baseless charges against Esra Solin Dal and her two journalist colleagues, who are being accused of "membership in a terrorist organization" due to their alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
WPF is outraged that media outlet Demirören News Agency (DHA) pressured reporter Rojda Altıntaş not to publish a story, about a car accident involving the 17-year-old son of writer Eylem Tok, by people connected to DHA's powerful owners, Demirören Holding.
Five journalists affiliated with Özgürlükçü Demokrasi (Liberal Democracy) have been sentenced to prison, with former editors Hicran Ürün and Reyhan Hacıoğlu receiving three years and 45 days respectively, WPF worryingly documents.
WPF organization vehemently condemns the recent ruling by the Anadolu 9th Civil Court of First Instance, which ordered journalists Yasemin Çongar, Mehmet Baransu, Ahmet Altan, and Yıldıray Oğur to pay damages to retired General Çetin Doğan.
WPF is elated that Kurdish journalist and artist Zehra Doğan has finally been acquitted.
WPF strongly condemns the unjust charges against Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçın who were arrested by police for allegedly belonging to a terrorist organization.
Yet again, authorities have thrown Elif Akkuş behind bars, this time awaiting trial under accusations of evidence tampering, allegedly tied to her expenditure during coverage of conflicts in Libya and Syria while working for state-run broadcaster TRT.
WPF expresses deep concern over the actions of Turkish authorities during the May Day march in Istanbul's Saraçhane district.
WPF vehemently condemns the repeated and unfounded accusations against journalist Zeynep Kuray by Turkish authorities.
WPF strongly condemns the police raid following Kurdish Journalists' Day targeting journalists from Kurdish news outlets across Turkiye.
WPF condemns the prosecutor's decision to pursue charges against journalist Asena Tunca for allegedly "opposing the law on meetings and demonstrations" following her violent detention by law enforcement while covering a protest against the government's handling of the February 2024 earthquakes.
WPF condemns the investigation into Duygu Kıt for her coverage of opposition to a quarry construction close to a fatal mine collapse in İliç, Erzincan.
WPF expresses profound dismay at the relentless pursuit of journalist Ayşe Kara by the Diyarbakır prosecutor, who has gone to unjustifiable lengths to harass her.
WPF celebrates the release of Dilan Oyunş after an unjust seven-year imprisonment on spurious terrorism charges.
WPF condemns the threats and violence Medine Mamedoğlu endured as a direct consequence of her exposing police brutality during protests in Van.
WPF stands unwaveringly with Perihan Kaya, an exiled journalist facing retrial in Turkiye on unfounded terrorism charges.
WPF views the lawsuit by Deputy Ali İhsan Arslan of the ruling AKP party against İleri Haber journalists İzel Sezer and Doğan Ergün as an attempt to stifle critical journalism, and we call for the case to be dismissed.
Rojin Akın has been finally vindicated of “membership of a terrorist organization” charges.
WPF firmly condemns the recent assaults, intimidation, and detentions of journalists in Turkiye, as they covered the protests against the electoral authorities' decision to block a pro-Kurdish mayor-elect in Van despite his election victory.
WPF persistently monitored the electoral process during the local elections and noted multiple instances of infringements. We condemn acts of violence and restrictions, including against Ece Üner, who was threatened with death.
Women Press Freedom is deeply troubled by Elif Akgül facing a potential 13.5 years behind bars over two tweets in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
Women Press Freedom welcomes the decision by the Istanbul prosecutor to drop the investigation against Artı TV journalist Şükran Ekinci.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.