Deniz Tekin
Journalists in Turkey are raising concerns that the long-term confiscation of their news equipment by authorities is a punitive measure that amounts to a form of censorship. Beritan Canözer, a journalist, reported that over the last nine years, six of her phones, five computers, three cameras, and five hard drives were seized and have yet to be returned.
Ahmet Kanbal, a reporter with Mezopotamya Agency, shared similar experiences, noting that this practice aims to distance journalists from their profession. The retention of such equipment, often under the pretext of ongoing investigations, even after related inquiries and trials have concluded, poses a significant legal challenge and is viewed by many as a method of intimidation and punishment.
During various detentions and raids, Canözer explained that she had been targeted multiple times, with substantial personal and financial repercussions. "Every time they raid my house or detain me in the field, my equipment is seized and not returned for long periods," Canözer stated. She described how hard drives returned to her family while she was in prison were damaged and unusable, and some of her devices remain under examination by security forces.
Kanbal also lamented the impact of equipment seizures on journalistic activities. Since 2013, he has repeatedly had cameras, computers, and phones confiscated, many of which were returned damaged or not at all. "The equipment that has been returned is often in a state of disrepair—batteries corroded, parts broken or disassembled—rendering them useless," he noted.
This ongoing issue has not only financially strained journalists but has also significantly hindered their ability to report, particularly those without the means to replace the expensive gear. Canözer and Kanbal both emphasized that seizing journalistic equipment effectively sidelines reporters, a tactic increasingly viewed as a governmental tool to suppress press freedom.
The situation has sparked calls for journalist associations to take urgent action against practices that infringe on press freedom and the right of journalists to work without undue interference. Both journalists stressed the necessity for collective action to address and combat these repressive measures, highlighting the dire need for protections against such state-led censorship tactics.
