An investigation was launched against bianet reporter Evrim Deniz, who reported that a company in Diyarbakır’s Kulp district had built a police station in a mining exploration site and that the owners were on trial for gang membership. Deniz was called to testify by the police.
The news article published on May 28 stated that Kulp Madencilik ve Dış Ticaret A.Ş. had been awarded the tender for the construction of a police station on Hesandin Plateau and that the owners of the company were on trial for various crimes including membership in a criminal organization. The company sent bianet a cease and desist letter due to the personal information in the article; the information was later removed.
Prior to this article, Deniz had published a news report on the 17-year struggle of villagers living in the same region against the mine.
Journalism professional organizations reacted to the investigation and emphasized that journalism is not a crime. DİSK Basın-İş and Mesopotamia Women Journalists’ Association announced that they stand by Deniz and stated that pressures against journalists are unacceptable.
July 2, 2025
Bianet