JINHA

AMED - The Diyarbakır-based group Society of Free Journalists, commenting on the recent threats against JINHA reporters, has said that the state is consciously working to silence women's voices and press freedom in Turkey.

The statement, which notes that Turkey ranks low among countries in the world for press freedom, condemned the attacks and threats on JINHA reporters over the last two weeks. JINHA is the only all-woman and woman-oriented news agency in Turkey.

On May 20, JINHA reporter Zeynep Akın was threatened by two men with a gun in the city of Batman. On May 24, an unknown person made a death threat against JINHA reporter Beritan Canözer in the Silvan district of Diyarbakır province. In addition, in April, when JINHA's traveling visual productions team headed to the provinces of Tokat, Sivas and Malatya to cover elections campaigns there, they were constantly followed by an unknown vehicle. When the team reported the situation to the local police, police took no action to investigate.

"Since the beginning of the elections process, there has been an absolute run on investigations into press organs who do not speak for and create propaganda for the AKP power," said the statement. "As if this repression and censorship was not enough, it has not stopped at investigations but has involved law enforcement officers who take orders from those in power and some groups who have gotten a green light. These groups are following, harassing and threatening members of the press."

The statement noted that other threats have included restrictions on the movement and reporting of members of the press in the Kurdish town of Yüksekova, in Hakkari province. Since 2004, there have been a number of mass trials of journalists in Turkey. Many cases are ongoing. However, the statement notes, women journalists are now under the most intense threat as those in power in Turkey attempt to suppress women's viewpoints and perspectives.

(şg/fk/cm)