JINNEWS News Director Öznur Değer’s letter for the report “Freedom of the Press in Turkey Behind Bars” was censored by the prison administration on the grounds of “content motivating the organization”. In her letter, Değer emphasized that there is no freedom of the press in Turkey and that imprisoned journalists continue to resist intellectually.
In her letter sent from Erzincan Women’s Closed Prison, Değer said, “Journalists are being silenced and society is being forced to obey. However, we continue to carry the ink of truth even behind bars,” Değer said, adding that she was detained and arrested on February 7 in Mardin, and that she is being tried on grounds such as her old social media posts and her participation in the condolence service for journalist Cihan Bilgin, who was killed in Rojava.
Değer said, “A journalist is a journalist everywhere. Even if we are behind bars, we will continue to shout the truth. The free press will not be silenced.”
JINNEWS reporter Öznur Değer’s trial will be held on May 22, 2025 at Mardin 2nd Assize Court. According to the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), the number of imprisoned journalists increased to 18 with Karabay’s arrest.
May 20, 2025
Journo