DENİZ TEKİN
Turkish authorities detained 114 individuals, including 31 journalists, during protests condemning the deaths of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were killed in a drone strike in northern Syria on Dec. 19. Among those detained, seven journalists were formally arrested on charges of "propaganda for a terrorist organization."
The journalists were targeted while covering clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). The drone strike occurred near the village of Sirin as the reporters traveled in a vehicle marked "Press." The driver, Ezîz Hec Bozan, was injured in the attack. Daştan worked with Ronahi TV, Mezopotamya Agency, and Firat News Agency, while Bilgin was a correspondent for the Hasakah-based Hawar News Agency (ANHA).
Backlash over the killings and arrests
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) called for an independent investigation into the deaths, condemning the deliberate targeting of journalists as a potential war crime. PEN International and the Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) echoed these concerns, demanding accountability from Turkey.
Protests erupted across Turkey, with journalists and civil society organizations criticizing the attack. In Istanbul, police detained 59 people, including 21 journalists, at a demonstration. Seven journalists, including prominent names like Gülistan Dursun and Hayri Tunç, were arrested on charges of carrying photos of the slain journalists, deemed as "terrorist propaganda."
Legal actions against journalists and advocates
Authorities launched investigations against Seyhan Avşar, a journalist, and the T24 news website for reporting on the killings. They face accusations of spreading "misleading information" and "terror propaganda." The Istanbul Bar Association president, İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu, and 10 board members are also under investigation for issuing a statement condemning the targeting of journalists in conflict zones as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Journalist Öznur Değer, who attended a condolence visit for the slain reporters, became the subject of a police investigation after responding to alleged sexist remarks from officers. She was also threatened and harassed online.
Context of the killings
Daştan and Bilgin’s deaths highlight the dangerous conditions for journalists covering the ongoing conflict in northern Syria and Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. Since 2019, 13 journalists have been killed in drone or bomb attacks in these regions, with another seven injured.
Turkish state media and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office claimed the journalists were affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or the People’s Defense Units (YPG), both designated as terrorist organizations by Turkey. However, press freedom advocates insist their deaths were a result of their journalistic work.
Nationwide protests and crackdown
Demonstrations in Van, Diyarbakır, and Istanbul faced heavy police intervention. In Van, 55 people, including 10 journalists, were briefly detained during a protest organized by the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Platform (MKG). In Diyarbakır, police used shields to block journalists from filming a press statement.
Calls for accountability
Numerous bar associations, civil society organizations, and press groups in Turkey have condemned the killings and arrests, urging independent investigations and respect for press freedom. The Council of Europe and international watchdogs continue to monitor the situation closely, warning against the criminalization of journalism in Turkey’s politically charged climate.
