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Mesopotamia Agency (MA) journalist Zeynep Durgut was released after four days in custody today following a global campaign for her freedom.
She was detained during a raid on her home in the city of Cizre in Turkey’s largely Kurdish south-east on Monday and was interrogated by security forces.
Ms Durgut thanked the Morning Star NUJ chapel for its solidarity, which she said was important for journalists and press freedom in Turkey.
“This is not the first pressure we have faced. Many of our friends are imprisoned and almost all are under investigations and lawsuits because of their reporting,” she said.
“We will continue to defend the right of the people to receive the news and will not compromise on the truth despite the pressure” (of the Turkish state), Ms Durgut added.
MA is one of the most targeted media organisations in Turkey. A number of its predecessors were shut down by the Turkish state and at least 20 of its associated journalists are behind bars.
National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said she was greatly alarmed by the continued harassment of MA journalists, including Ms Durgut.
“We will continue to work with colleagues in the International Federation of Journalists and the Turkish journalists’ unions to condemn these attacks on press freedom and the jailing of journalists by the Turkish authorities,” she told the Star.
