JINHA

COLEMERG - A statement to the press was made in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari to condemn the pressure against the free press. Dicle News Agency (DİHA) English News Editor and reporter of Yüksekova, Nedim Türfent, said, "Journalism is considered a "crime". Uncover the secrets of Ankara is considered as "terrorist propaganda". If reflecting the truth is a "crime", we will continue to commit the offense."

Pressure, censorship and threats against press was protested by journalists in the Yüksekova, Hakkari province. A statement to the press was made by the journalists. The free press workers, the HDP MP Abdullah Zeydan and many citizens attended the statement to support the journalists. A banners with the photographs of Apê Musa and Kadri Bağdu was unfurled with the sentence " The free press cannot be silenced." Meanwhile, the journalists unfurled the signs that read "If a state commits a offense, it first targets the journalists", "The truth will not remain in the dark."

News Chief of Yüksekova, Erkan Çapraz said, "Our news websites are censored. They apply pressure on the journalists and they arrest our friends. Our friends are battered on the streets. They hold a gun to our friends's heads. Especially, they apply pressure on Dicle News Agency (DİHA). DİHA reporter Nedim Türfent has been threatened. He has a risk of death."

After the statement, journalists chanted "The free press will not be silenced."

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