ANKARA - DFG Co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu pointed out that the detention period was extended with a ready-made decision and said: "We will continue to speak our word, show the unseen, and write the unwritten."

 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chair and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Editor Dicle Müftüoğlu, who was detained on April 29, 2023 within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was arrested by the court on May 3. 

Müftüoğlu, who was accused of "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "establishing and managing a terrorist organization" due to her professional activities, is not released at the second hearing on January 18. Müftüoğlu wrote an article about not being released.

 

SHE REMINDED MINISTER TUNÇ'S WORDS

 

Referring to Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç's statement about journalists, Müftüoğlu said: "Although I say that I am an imprisoned journalist, the minister says, 'There are no imprisoned journalists in prison due to their journalistic activities.' The minister, who is a sustainer of the AKP government's general understanding of politics, was also right from his side. If you can't change the fact, you change the perception! While the reality of imprisoned journalists in Turkey and the extent of the pressure on freedom of the press and expression has reached the level of a 'finger in the eye', a mentality and political mind that says 'Europe is jealous of Turkey' and 'the press has never been this free' is of course denying the reality of imprisoned journalists. He wouldn't see it."

 

'THEY EXTENDED MY PRISON PERIOD WITH A READY-MADE DECISION'

 

Drawing attention to the attitude of the court panel in the second hearing of the case, Müftüoğlu said: “Everything alleged against me in the indictment is just an attempt to portray my professional activities as 'terrorist organizational'. Two witness statements were included as audio. The court, which decided to ‘continue my detention’ because the witnesses were not heard in the first hearing, this time, without even finding a reason for this, extended my prison time with the ready-made decision they brought.”

 

CALL TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF JOURNALISTS

 

Stating that her professional activities were disguised as an "terrorist organizational cover" with secret witness statements, Müftüoğlu underlined that the decision was nothing more than judging journalism and said: “A court panel that is unaware that it will hear open witnesses and opposes having a lawyer with me in audio and video information system (SEGBİS) is determined to continue this policy of oppression despite the defenses made and the contradictory statements of the witnesses. We, Kurdish journalists, are determined to reveal the truth. As the continuators of the tradition that has not bowed down for 30 years and has tried to reveal the truth without bending the pen, we will continue to speak our word, show the unseen, and write the unwritten. Even though there are many things to say, the main thing is the struggle; I call on all democratic public opinion, professional organizations and journalists to expand the common struggle to defend journalism, press and freedom of expression."