13.02.2024 – Concerns Rise Over the Detention of Journalist Kibriye Evren

The detention of journalist Kibriye Evren in Türkiye / Turkey, known for her work with the Kurdish-focused JINNEWS (https://jinnews41.xyz/), during a morning raid on her home in Tuzla, a district in Istanbul on 9 February 2024, has sparked concerns among colleagues. Evren was taken to the Kocaeli anti-terror bureau, where her phone was confiscated, and she was subjected to a 24-hour lawyer restriction. She was was released on 12 February 2024 after three days of detention.

This incident follows a history of intimidation against Evren, including previous baseless legal charges and a lengthy detention.

Furthermore, objections have been raised regarding the legality of Evren’s detention, as it was revealed that there is a three-year restriction order on her file. She was taken into custody on allegations of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “providing finance to the organization” for sending money to a friend who was in prison in 2021.

Her lawyer, Şule Recepoğlu, highlighted the lack of concrete evidence and transparency in the investigation, questioning the necessity of Evren’s detention.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the operation and investigation procedures allegedly being against the law, with neither Evren nor her lawyers being informed about the accusations against her. The objection petition requested that the arrest and detention decision be deemed unlawful and called for access to the documents in the file.

The journalist has faced incarceration on multiple occasions, with her most recent period of detention spanning from 2018 to 2019, during which she spent over a year in confinement at the women’s prison in Amed (Diyarbakır), Türkiye / Turkey. Following her release, Evren provided assistance to a former detainee by offering modest financial aid, as reported by JinNews. Turkish authorities have levied accusations of funding a terrorist organization against her based on this action.

Alongside Evren, 15 other individuals were also detained and are being held at Kocaeli TEM Branch. These development underscore the ongoing challenges faced by journalists, particularly those reporting on Kurdish issues, in Türkiye / Turkey, where media outlets and reporters are subjected to systematic persecution and restrictions.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent detention of journalist Kibriye Evren, expressing deep concern over the circumstances surrounding her arrest. SEEMO urges the authorities to provide transparent and justifiable reasons for her detention. This arbitrary action against a journalist undermines press freedom and raises serious questions about the state of media freedom in the region.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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Today on 12 February 2024 a court process started in Kazakhstan against Duman Mukhammedkarim (Думан Мұхаммедкәрім – @dumanmukhammedkarim), a journalist critical of the government. He on charges of extremism, marking yet another instance of the government’s crackdown on dissent.

Mukhammedkarim said that he has not yet read the charge and court documents, and asked the court to give him 15 days to study the case. He also asked for house arrest, so that he can better study the case. The court refused to put him under house arrest. Supporters of Mukhammedkarim and journalists could not enter the courtroom. The defense requested that the trial should be held in public. After the first court-day the journalist was taken to the detention center in Taldykorgan (Талдықорған).

Mukhammedkarim, aged 45, is the creator of the ND YouTube media channel (https://www.youtube.com/@ND-arnasy), also known as “Ne Deydi” (What they say), boasting approximately 145,000 subscribers. Over the past two years, he has been covering significant anti-government protests since January 2022, detailing the authorities’ response and the ensuing aftermath. Additionally, Mukhammedkarim ran as an independent candidate in the local parliamentary elections held in March 2023, although he did not secure a seat.

Mukhammedkarim’s troubles began in June 2023 when he was detained and subsequently held in pretrial detention on accusations of financing extremist activities and participating in the activities of a banned extremist organization. These charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to nine years. As reaction in Summer he went on hunger strike.

Over a span from 21 March to 22 June 2023, he endured a cumulative period of 75 days in administrative custody. These detentions were a consequence of his dissemination of details concerning forthcoming protests or declarations of his intention to participate in street demonstrations.

The catalyst for his arrest stems from a 20 December 2023 interview he conducted with Mukhtar Ablyazov (Мұхтар Әблязов), the exiled leader of the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan – DVK (Қазақстанның демократиялық таңдауы – QDT) movement, which was labeled extremist and banned by Kazakh authorities in 2018.

Despite claims by authorities that the interview promoted extremist views, a subsequent analysis found no evidence of advocating for violence. Moreover, Mukhammedkarim’s coverage of political events and peaceful protests has drawn further scrutiny, with authorities accusing him of violating Kazakhstan’s restrictive laws on assembly.

Mukhammedkarim now becomes the second individual critical of the government to face trial on sweeping charges of extremism in recent times. Previously, on 30 November 2023, a court in Astana (Астана), Kazakhstan handed a seven-year prison term to Marat Zhylanbaev (Марат Төлегенұлы Жыланбаев), another government opponent.

Despite President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokaev’s (Қасым-Жомарт Тоқаев) assurances of legislative integrity, calls for the immediate release of Mukhammedkarim and others detained on similar grounds persist, emphasizing the need to uphold fundamental human rights and protect journalists’ ability to operate freely.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the arrest and trial of journalist Duman Mukhammedkarim in Kazakhstan.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 6 February 2024, a concerning case happened inside the building of the Parliament of Albania in Tirana, Albania. Journalist Ardit Hoxha (@ardithoxhabr), the reporter from Euro News Albania (https://euronews.al/), found himself at the center of a disturbing situation with a member of the Albanian Republic Guard who attacked him inside the Parliament building.

As part of standard protocol, journalists covering parliamentary sessions are required to arrive in time before the proceeding starts, positioning themselves outside the meeting area in a special area where journalists are waiting. However, on this day a guard from the Republic Guard forcibly ejected Hoxha from the vicinity.

The aggressive behavior of the Republic Guard towards the journalist is completely unacceptable. This incident represents a troubling escalation in the already fraught relationship between media professionals and security personnel inside the parliament.

It is not the first time that a verbal or physical threat by the state security staff against a journalist in Albania happened. Journalists in Albania are also often verbally attacked or they receive threats from politicians in power or from the opposition or politicians are refusing to respond to a question asked by a journalist who is critical about a politician.

You can see the video of the attack here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1754928706940788976

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the assault on journalist Ardit Hoxha. The physical aggression perpetrated by a member of the Albanian Republic Guard against Hoxha is a serious violation of press freedom and journalistic rights. Such acts of intimidation and violence against members of the press undermine the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. SEEMO calls on Albanian authorities to thoroughly investigate this incident and ensure the safety of journalists covering parliamentary proceedings. This condemnable attack highlights the urgent need to safeguard press freedom and uphold the rights of journalists to carry out their vital work without fear of harassment or reprisal.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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The recent shooting incident involving journalist Azim Deniz ( @azim_deniz ) in Kayseri, Türkiye / Turkey, on 5 February 2024, has sent shockwaves through the media landscape, highlighting the precarious situation faced by journalists in the country.

Deniz, who is the editor-in-chief of Deniz Postası (https://www.denizpostasi.com/), was targeted in a brazen attack in front of his home, sustaining severe injuries to his leg and abdomen. This reprehensible act of violence against a journalist has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from media organizations worldwide, shining a spotlight on the escalating threats faced by journalists in Türkiye / Turkey.

A video from hospital with Deniz after the attack is online: https://twitter.com/i/status/1754627204103770265

Deniz’s previous encounter with violence in April 2022, when he and a guest in his studio were attacked. A group of between 40 and 50 individuals raided the office and studio of the Deniz Postası TV broadcaster in Kayseri, Türkiye / Turkey on 9 April 2022, assaulting journalist Azim Deniz and his guest, a local businessman and politician. The attackers trapped journalists inside the newsroom and proceeded to the studio, where they physically assaulted his guest and Deniz, who intervened to protect his guest. Despite the subsequent arrest of six suspects by police, Deniz has not received updates on the case, highlighting the need for accountability and improved protection for journalists in Türkiye / Turkey.

As Deniz recuperates in the hospital, the international community must continue to pressure Turkish authorities to hold perpetrators of violence against journalists accountable and to create an environment where journalists can work freely and without fear of reprisal. Protecting journalists is not only a matter of upholding democratic values but also essential for maintaining an informed and vibrant society.

On 6 February 2024, the alleged assailant who shot and wounded journalist Azim Deniz has been arrested and detained by the court. Following extensive investigations, police apprehended the perpetrator, identified as A.T. After undergoing necessary legal procedures and a health examination, A.T. was taken to court and subsequently remanded in custody pending further legal proceedings.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) calls on Turkish authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting, emphasizing the need to determine whether Deniz was targeted due to his journalistic activities and arrest all persons connected to the attack, including the person who ordered it. Such attacks not only endanger the lives of individual journalists but also undermine press freedom and the public’s right to access information.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack#turkey #AzimDeniz #DenizPostası #journalistattacked#SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia @azim_deniz@DenizPostasi

The District Court of Kazan (Казань), Russia, recently ruled to extend the detention of Alsu Kurmasheva (Алсу Курмашева), a Prague-based journalist associated with Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir Service (RFERL – https://www.rferl.org/), until 5 April 2024. This decision, made behind closed doors on 1 February 2024, marks an additional two months from her initial detention on 18 October 2023. Kurmasheva, a dual American and Russian citizen, found herself ensnared in the Russian legal system under accusations of violating the foreign agent law and in an additional case allegedly spreading false information concerning the Russian military, connected to her alleged distribution of a book. The first charge carries a potential sentence of five years in prison, the second up to 10 years in prison.

Kurmasheva entered Russia in May 2023 to deal with a family case and was temporarily detained while waiting at Kazan airport for her return flight in June 2023. She was financially fined on 11 October 2023 for failing to register her American passport. Several days later, on 18 October 2023 she was arrested again.

The court proceedings shrouded in secrecy and limited press access, have ignited concerns about transparency and the adherence to fair trial standards. Despite appeals for her release and calls for her designation as “wrongfully detained” by the United States Department of State, Kurmasheva’s legal team’s plea to change her detention status to house arrest was summarily dismissed.

The plight of Kurmasheva, a seasoned journalist with a career spanning decades, has attracted widespread condemnation from international media advocacy groups. Her case is the second case where a U.S. journalist is arrested in Russia. Evan Gershkovich a U.S. journalist at The Wall Street Journal covering Russia, was arrested by Russia’s authorities on charges of espionage in March 2023,

The refusal of Russian authorities to grant consular access to Kurmasheva have further compounded concerns about her well-being and the politicization of her detention. The prolonged incarceration of journalists like Kurmasheva highlights the precarious landscape for independent media in Russia and the urgent need for international solidarity in safeguarding press freedom and the right to free expression.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the prolonged detention of Alsu Kurmasheva by Russian authorities. Kurmasheva’s continued imprisonment, now extended until 5 April 2024, exemplifies the alarming crackdown on press freedom in Russia. SEEMO denounces this flagrant violation of journalistic rights and calls for Kurmasheva’s immediate release. The unjust detention of Kurmasheva, based on dubious charges related to her journalistic activities, underscores the urgent need for international solidarity in defending press freedom and advocating for the rights of journalists worldwide.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is monitoring the case of Mahmut Altıntaş, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency (Mezopotamyaajansı/ MA – https://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/en).

Altıntaş was detained twice by police in Adıyaman, Türkiye / Turkey on 27 January 2024, initially on suspicion of terrorism propaganda and then after being released, he was again arrested. According to the officials he allegedly hit several police officers while he was handcuffed. One police officer claimed that he and other colleagues had been beaten by the journalist.

Altıntaş was on 27 January 2024 on his way to a report, when the car he was in was stopped by the police. The journalist was taken to the police headquarters because there was an order to arrest him. During his detention, Altıntaş reported being physically assaulted by police officers, who allegedly struck him and restricted his movement. Altıntaş was questioned about several social media posts, including articles written by him and other journalists from Mezopotamya and the Kurdish language newspaper Xwebûn (https://xwebun.org/).

He was released under judicial control. The mechanism is seen as an alternative to imprisonment and is used by the Turkish justice system. The basis for it is the “release under control” law that came into force in 2013.

Despite his release under judicial control, Altıntaş was subsequently detained again on charges of resisting the police and taken to a Courthouse in Adıyaman,Türkiye / Turkey. He spent the night in the local jail. The public prosecutor’s office filed a request for an arrest warrant. However, the judge did not comply with the request due to the previously imposed released under judicial control.

When Altıntaş was released, he visited a hospital to get a certified about injures.

SEEMO calls on Turkish authorities to thoroughly investigate the case and ensure Altıntaş’s safety.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 26 January 2024, during a press conference in Vranje, Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić engaged in a contentious exchange with N1 (https://n1info.rs/) journalist Gordana Bjeletić.

Vučić, visiting Vranje, was questioned by Bjeletić about post-electoral alliances in Belgrade, Serbia. Responding with heightened emotions, Vučić accused N1 of dishonesty and bias against him and his family, stating that he had not appeared on the N1 for years due to their portrayal of his family as criminals and him as “Hitler or fascists”. You can see the link of the conversation here: https://n1info.rs/vesti/video-vucic-na-pitanje-o-koaliciji-u-beogradu-verbalno-napao-novinarku-n1/

Vučić criticized N1 for alleged misrepresentation and manipulation of his statements.

The incident reflects ongoing tensions between Vučić and critical media outlets in Serbia.

Politicians close to Vučić are very often attacking N1. One of them said several months ago that N1 company release the most disgusting propaganda film against Aleksandar Vučić and that also Goebbels (note by SEEMO: Paul Joseph Goebbels chief propagandist for the Nazi Party in Germany in the World War II), should envy them, because even he did not think of doing something like this. Some leading pro governmental politicians in Serbia accused several times N1 for “sick campaigns” against the Serbian president and government. Members of the ruling party in Serbia are using very often accusations against critical journalists branded as traitors who act against the state or that journalist associations allegedly are receiving money from abroad to fabricate scandals; or that critical media are mercenaries of foreign powers threatening the government and the president himself. According to politicians in power critical media in Serbia are controlled by tycoons and are dissatisfied with the fact that “Serbia is progressing and developing more than other countries in the region”.

Incidents like these raise concerns about the loss of democratic standards and the stifling of dissenting voices.

According to Slavko Ćuruvija fondacija from Belgrade this Foundation observed from April to July 2022 that politicians in Serbia attacked critical media or journalists 68 times. According to this research attacks in 83.8 percent of cases came from members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), including very often verbal attacks by President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Ana Brnabić.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns President Aleksandar Vučić’s disrespectful and aggressive behavior towards N1, as also attacks by members of his party against critical media in Serbia. Journalists play a crucial role in a democratic society by asking questions on behalf of the public, and their right to do so without fear of reprisal is fundamental to press freedom. SEEMO calls for respect for journalists’ rights and urges political leaders to engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to personal attacks when faced with tough questions.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #serbia #N1 #gordanabjeletic #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia @n1srbija @GordanaBjeletic

On 30 January 2024, Judge of the City Court in Minsk (Мінск), Belarus convicted according to the article 361-1 of the criminal law of Belarus freelance photographer Aliaksandr Ziankou (Аляксандр Зянкоў) of creation or participating in an extremist organization (Стварэнне экстрэмісцкага фармавання або ўдзел у ім), sentencing him to three years in prison. Ziankou’s trial began on 12 January 2024. He was arrested on 22 June 2023, in Barysau (Барысаў), Belarus, when police seized his computer equipment during a house search. Despite being held for ten days in a temporary detention facility in Minsk, Belarus, Ziankou remained steadfast, refusing to confess or provide his smartphone password to investigators.

According to a former cellmate, Ziankou was charged with promoting extremist activities, allegedly based on video footage found on his computer, which had been posted on a website labeled as “extremist” by Belarusian authorities. His refusal to cooperate led to his transfer to the Minsk pre-trial detention center on 2 July 2023.

Ziankou, a freelance photographer since 1998, collaborated with various media outlets and received recognition for his creative work, including documentaries and award-winning photography projects. He was previously detained in 2020 while documenting protests against President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (Аляксандр Рыгоравіч Лукашэнка).

The sentencing of Ziankou underscores the ongoing crackdown on press freedom in Belarus and highlights the risks faced by journalists and media professionals operating in the country.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the sentencing of Belarusian photographer Aliaksandr Ziankou. The use of extremism laws to silence journalists and media professionals is a blatant violation of press freedom and democracy. Ziankou’s case highlights the continued repression of independent voices in Belarus and underscores the urgent need for international attention and action to protect journalists and ensure their right to work without fear of persecution. SEEMO calls on Belarusian authorities to immediately release Ziankou and other unjustly detained journalists, and to respect the principles of media freedom and human rights.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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