AMED - According to the report, one female journalist was threatened, one journalist was electronically handcuffed, and 13 press workers were fired. Additionally, eight websites were shut down.

 

The Mesopotamia Women Journalists' Association (MKG) announced its report on rights violations against women journalists for August 2025. The report emphasized that women journalists are being silenced through threats, judicial harassment, economic pressure, and digital censorship.

 

The following statements were included in the report: "Journalists are subjected to multifaceted mechanisms of pressure and violence due to both their professional activities and their social identities. Throughout August, journalists were directly threatened, prevented from reporting, and subjected to judicial harassment."

 

Threats and obstructions

 

The report reminded readers that a female journalist, C.K., filed a criminal complaint after receiving threats online. However, the perpetrator was protected after his arrest. The report also stated that police prevented MA reporter Zeynep Durgut from covering the news in Şırnak. Another example is journalist Rahime Karvar, who was fitted with electronic handcuffs, demonstrating "how punitive methods that restrict freedom of expression are normalized."

 

The Constitutional Court's decision: An Inadequate Approach

 

The report emphasized the inadequacy of the Constitutional Court's ruling for JINNEWS news director Öznur Değer and journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu. It stated that the court's finding of only a partial violation of rights "is an expression of an inadequate approach in terms of freedom of expression."

 

Economic pressures and layoffs

 

The report noted that economic pressures function as a form of censorship for journalists. It cited the dismissal of thirteen press workers at Nefes newspaper and the indefinite suspension of the advertisement rights of eight local newspapers in Mersin by the Press Advertisement Agency as examples.

 

Digital Censorship and Access Barriers

 

The report described the blocking of digital media accounts belonging to organizations such as Yeni Yaşam, Xwebûn, Ajansa Welat, Kaos GL, and ETHA as "deliberate interventions to render critical press invisible."

 

International Dimension: Journalists Murdered in Palestine

 

The report included not only Turkish violations but also attacks against journalists in Palestine. "Six journalists, including Maryam Abu Dekka, were killed in Israeli attacks on Palestine. The murder of journalists attacks not only the individual right to life but also the right of entire societies to information.

 

The report commemorated the fallen journalists and emphasized "the responsibility to continue the search for truth from their struggle."

 

MKG demands:

 

The report stated that the pressure against journalists should end, and the following calls were made:

 

Judicial processes should be impartial, fair, and transparent.

 

Digital censorship practices should be abolished.

 

Detained journalists should be released, and freedom of expression should be guaranteed.

 

International mechanisms should be strengthened.

 

According to the report, women journalists faced various violations in August. During this period, a female journalist was threatened; a female journalist was prevented from reporting on the news by the police; a journalist was mistreated; and a journalist was electronically handcuffed. Regarding violations of freedom of expression, the report stated that two journalists are still on trial, one case is still open, and five female journalists are still under arrest.

 

The report also highlighted economic pressures, noting that 13 press workers were laid off at Nefes newspaper. Regarding digital media, the report noted that eight websites were shut down and five digital media accounts on Instagram and X were blocked.

 

The report also included the names of the women journalists who are currently under arrest: Elif Ersoy from Yürüyüş Magazine; Hatice Duman from Atılım Newspaper; Özden Kınık, a former TRT employee; Perihan Erkılınç, a reporter from Özgür Gelecek; and Songül Yücel, Editor-in-Chief of Önsöz Magazine.

 

The full report is available on the MKG website.