Journalists Melike Aydın, Delal Akyüz, and Tolga Güney, who were detained in Izmir on February 13 and released under house arrest, stated that they have been unlawfully held under house arrest for six months and unable to perform their profession, turning their homes into prisons.
AZİZ ORUÇ
As part of an investigation initiated by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, several journalists, including Gazete Duvar reporter Cihan Başakçıoğlu, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Semra Turan, Delal Akyüz, and Tolga Güney, JINNEWS reporter Melike Aydın, and DEM Party press worker Fatma Funda Akbulut, were detained on February 13 in Izmir.
After three days in custody, the journalists were brought before the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on February 16 on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization" and a request for their arrest. While Semra Turan and Cihan Başakçıoğlu were released with the condition of reporting to the police station twice a week, Delal Akyüz, Tolga Güney, Melike Aydın, and Fatma Funda Akbulut were released with electronic bracelets and the condition of not leaving their homes. Appeals against the house arrest by their lawyers were rejected. The journalists have criticized the lack of an indictment even after six months of detention.
Despite being unable to leave their homes, the journalists emphasized that they continue to pursue their profession, stating, "We continue our journalism, the location does not matter." They noted the difficulties of not being able to follow stories outside and instead conducting interviews online or compiling reports.
The Legal Unit of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) took the house arrest of journalist Delal Akyüz to the Constitutional Court in March 2024. In their application, MLSA and other lawyers argued that the house arrest and electronic bracelet made it impossible for Akyüz to perform her journalism duties. Akyüz was unable to attend her trial in Izmir on May 9 due to her house arrest.
Güney: Society is being kept uninformed
MA reporter Tolga Güney, discussing the five and a half months of house arrest, said, "Since day one, we knew that they wanted to prevent us from practicing our profession. Being on the streets, documenting the lives and thoughts of people, is essential for a journalist, but this situation aims to keep society uninformed. They did not want us to report on deforestation from Akbelen to Cudi, the drying rivers from Trabzon to Van, the destruction of nature, and history."
"Even though we are away from our cameras and the streets, we continue to shed light on the darkness with our pens," Güney added, expressing hope for returning to the field.
Aydın: Our home has become a prison
Melike Aydın stated that their homes have turned into prisons over the past six months, illustrating how isolation policies have spread from prisons to living spaces. "These judicial control measures show the extent of pressure and violence policies as the overflowing prisons are no longer sufficient," she said. Aydın criticized the prolonged house arrest, arguing that the evidence against them, such as news reports and interview recordings, is insufficient to justify such measures.
"Not being able to step outside for six months, not being able to use our cameras, is frustrating. But the more frustrating part is the limited contact with our sources. Being in the field, conducting face-to-face interviews, and observing events firsthand is crucial for accuracy. House arrest confines us to the internet and limits the type of news we can produce," she added.
Akyüz: House arrest hinders our profession
Delal Akyüz, whose defense is led by MLSA, argued that house arrest violates both national and international law and restricts access to healthcare. "Isolating us from society contradicts the principles of journalism," she said, highlighting their continued commitment to informing the public despite the pressures.
The journalists stressed the importance of public support and the defense of freedom of expression, as their case and many others reflect broader issues of human rights violations in Turkey.
Despite being under house arrest, they remain determined to continue their work and shed light on important issues, hoping for better days ahead.
