TWO journalists from the Mesopotamia News Agency (MA) were detained on terror charges late yesterday as press-freedom organisations warned of “systematic pressure” from the Turkish state.

Sadiye Eser and Sadik Topaloglu were held after leaving the media organisation’s office in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul last week.

They have been referred to court on charges of “membership of a terrorist organisation” based purely on their journalistic activities.

MA is a frequent target of the Turkish state with scores of its journalists detained in police operations or when covering anti-government protests.

There are at least 20 currently behind bars.

Yesterday MA journalist Berivan Altan was released from custody, although she has been placed on a judicial-control order and has been banned from travelling abroad. 

Ms Eser was sent to the Bakirkoy women’s closed prison where it is alleged that female prisoners were last week subjected to brutal torture by soldiers and police.

Mr Topaloglu is expected to be transferred to Silivri prison where former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas has been hed for more than three years.

Last week he was found unconscious in his prison cell with fears he had suffered a heart attack.

Despite this prison authorities refused to transport Mr Demirtas to hospital for treatment.

The clampdown on press freedom in Turkey has continued to escalate with the Free Journalists’ Initiative (OGI) publishing its latest report today.

It revealed that 139 journalists were behind bars in November.

OGI spokesman Hakki Boltan said:  “Media workers had to struggle with countless problems. Intimidation methods such as house searches, arrests, detentions, convictions, attacks and more were used against journalists. 

“To sum up, we can say that journalists have experienced everything but freedom of the press in the past month.”