Journalist spent almost two years in prison on bogus charges

Location: Turkiye, Diyarbakır
Date: August 6, 2024

Women Press Freedom welcomes the long-overdue release of journalist Derya Ren, who was wrongfully imprisoned on baseless terrorism charges. Her case highlights the persistent state repression against journalists in Türkiye, particularly those covering Kurdish issues. Although Ren completed her sentence, her release was unjustly delayed earlier this year, underscoring the broader discriminatory crackdown on Kurdish journalists behind bars. We celebrate Ren's reunion with her loved ones, from whom she should never have been separated. Women Press Freedom reiterates our demand that Turkish authorities immediately release all 9 unjustly detained women journalists.

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JIN News journalist Derya Ren was finally released on August 6, 2024, after nearly two years behind bars. She was greeted outside Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison by her family, members of the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG), the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), and her colleagues.

Ren was detained on October 25, 2022, during a series of house raids. Her arrest followed the approval of a 3-year, 13-month, and 15-day prison sentence by the Supreme Court in 2022. Ren was convicted by the Urfa 6th High Criminal Court of "knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organization."

Despite the completion of her sentence, Ren's release was postponed for three months in May 2024 by the Administrative and Monitoring Board, citing her "unpreparedness to integrate with society."

Ren’s release comes against a backdrop of increasing state repression against journalists in Turkiye, particularly those reporting on Kurdish issues. On July 3, 2024, Ankara's 4th High Criminal Court sentenced eight Kurdish journalists (4 women journalists) from the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) to 6 years and 3 months in prison. The journalists, Berivan Altan, Öznur Değer, Diren Yurtsever, Zemo Ağgöz, and others, were charged with being members of a terrorist organization.

From January to the end of April 2024, Women Press Freedom documented the arrests of 3 journalists related to Kurdish outlets, while eight were detained in police raids. Mass raids, detentions, and arrests of Kurdish media outlets and journalists reveal a targeted effort to silence Kurdish voices and suppress reporting on Kurdish rights and issues.

Women Press Freedom welcomes Derya Ren’s release from prison. The journalist should never have been behind bars in the first place. The arbitrary detention and imprisonment of journalists under the pretext of anti-terrorism operations is a clear violation of press freedom and human rights. The targeting of Kurdish journalists, in particular, reflects the discriminatory and politically motivated nature of these actions. We take this opportunity to once again call for the immediate release of all detained journalists in Turkiye and the protection of press freedom in the country. The case of Derya Ren is a reminder of the risks journalists face who dare to report the truth in an increasingly repressive environment.

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