Firat News Agency
{{short description|Kurdish news agency}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Firat News Agency
| logo = Firat News Agency.jpg
| formation = 2005{{cite web |date=25 October 2005|title=PKK yeni ajans kurdu |url=https://www.haber7.com/medya/haber/118286-pkk-yeni-ajans-kurdu |website=Haber7 |access-date=22 January 2025}}
| languages = Turkish, Kurdish (Kurmanji, Sorani, and Kirmancki dialects), English, Arabic, German, Spanish, Russian and Persian{{cite web |date=17 September 2018 |title=ANF launches Kirmanckî service |url=https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/anf-launches-kirmancki-service-29674 |website=ANF News |access-date=12 May 2023}}
| owner =
| staff =
| headquarters = Amsterdam, Netherlands
| website = {{URL|https://anfenglish.com}}
}}
The Firat News Agency (ANF) ({{langx|ku|Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firatê}}, {{langx|tr|Fırat Haber Ajansı}}) is a Kurdish news agency{{cite news |last1=Tuysuz |first1=Gul |last2=Watson |first2=Ivan |author-link2=Ivan Watson |date=25 April 2013 |title=Kurdish rebels to start withdrawing from Turkey in May |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/04/25/world/meast/turkey-kurdish-rebel-withdrawal/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=11 January 2019}} that gathers and broadcasts news from the Middle East, broadly concerning Kurdish matters. The news agency has offices in Amsterdam{{cite web |date=24 February 2011 |title=Kurdish channels still experiencing broadcasting attacks |url=https://anfenglish.com/features/kurdish-channels-still-experiencing-broadcasting-attacks-2909 |website=ANF News |access-date=11 January 2019}} and journalists around the world.
It has been variously described as pro-Kurdish,{{cite news |date=5 November 2015 |title=Turkey's PKK Militants End Cease-fire |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/turkeys-pkk-militants-end-cease-fire/3037918.html |work=Voice of America |access-date=11 January 2019}} pro-PKK, or PKK-affiliated.{{cite magazine |date=15 July 2008 |title=Attack on Mt. Ararat: Germany Becomes a Target of the Kurdish PKK - International |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/attack-on-mt-ararat-germany-becomes-a-target-of-the-kurdish-pkk-a-566033.html |magazine=Der Spiegel |access-date=11 January 2019}}{{cite news |date=10 January 2016 |title=Turkey claims 12 PKK killed in raid, Kurds say they were civilians |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/100120162 |work=Rudaw |access-date=12 May 2023}} The CBC and Reuters have described the ANF as being "close" to the PKK,{{cite news |date=5 November 2015 |title=Kurdish PKK militants end unilateral ceasefire in Turkey |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/turkey-kurds-ceasefire-1.3305135 |work=CBC News |agency=Thomson Reuters |access-date=11 January 2019}}{{cite news |date=23 March 2018 |title=Kurdish militant PKK group withdrawing from Iraq's Sinjar - Firat news agency |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-turkey-iraq-idUSA4N1PK00Y |work=Reuters |access-date=11 January 2019}} and Deutsche Welle states the two entities have "links".{{cite news |date=4 March 2010 |title=Belgian authorities raid houses and businesses associated with the PKK |url=https://www.dw.com/en/belgian-authorities-raid-houses-and-businesses-associated-with-the-pkk/a-5319300 |work=Deutsche Welle |access-date=11 January 2019}} The BBC have alternately labelled the ANF "pro-Kurdish"{{cite news |date=22 March 2013 |title=Turkish and Kurdish press bid farewell to arms |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21900310 |work=BBC News |access-date=11 January 2019}} and "pro-PKK".{{cite news |date=2 August 2015 |title=Suicide attack hits Turkish troops |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33750803 |work=BBC News |access-date=11 January 2019}}
Because of the ANF's alleged links with the PKK, access to its websites from Turkey has been repeatedly blocked by Turkish courts{{Cite news |date=23 October 2009 |title=Fırat Haber Ajansı kapatıldı |trans-title=Firat News Agency closed |url=https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/firat-haber-ajansi-kapatildi-218744 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122141422/https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/firat-haber-ajansi-kapatildi-218744 |archive-date=22 January 2025 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Yeni Şafak |language=TR}}{{Cite news |date=22 July 2014 |title=ANF'ye uygulanan yayın yasağı kaldırıldı |trans-title=The broadcast ban on ANF has been lifted |url=https://t24.com.tr/haber/anfye-uygulanan-yayin-yasagi-kaldirildi,265140 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723010912/https://t24.com.tr/haber/anfye-uygulanan-yayin-yasagi-kaldirildi,265140 |archive-date=23 July 2014 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=T24}}{{Cite news |date=21 July 2014 |title=Türkiye'de Uygulanan ANF Yasağı Mahkeme Kararı İle Kalktı! |trans-title=ANF Ban in Turkey Lifted by Court Decision |url=https://www.gazetevan.com/haber/gunun-haberleri/69935/turkiye-de-uygulanan-anf-yasagi-mahkeme-karari-ile-kalkti |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122143402/https://www.gazetevan.com/haber/gunun-haberleri/69935/turkiye-de-uygulanan-anf-yasagi-mahkeme-karari-ile-kalkti |archive-date=22 January 2025 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Gazete Van}}{{Cite news |last=KARATAŞ |first=ZEYNEP |date=15 August 2015 |title=Ongoing censorship blocks Kurdish, critical, data-based media during time of crisis |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/national_ongoing-censorship-blocks-kurdish-critical-data-based-media-during-time-of-crisis_396569.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816033851/http://www.todayszaman.com/national_ongoing-censorship-blocks-kurdish-critical-data-based-media-during-time-of-crisis_396569.html |archive-date=16 August 2015 |access-date=21 January 2025 |work=Today's Zaman}} in what has been described by O'Brien of the Committee to Protect Journalists as a "cat-and-mouse" game.{{Cite book |url=https://cpj.org/reports/2012/10/turkeys-press-freedom-crisis/ |title=Turkey’s Press Freedom Crisis |date=October 2012 |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |location=New York |pages=30–31 |language=EN |chapter=Sidebar: Online Censors Sharpen Tactics |access-date=22 January 2025 |chapter-url=https://cpj.org/reports/2012/10/turkeys-press-freedom-crisis-sidebar-online-censors-sharpen-tactics/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629234204/https://cpj.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Turkey2012.English.pdf |archive-date=29 June 2020 |url-status=live}} ANF social media accounts active in Turkey have been closed,{{cite web |date=11 September 2018 |title=ANF's Twitter account issued 10th ban from Ankara |url=https://anfenglish.com/freedom-of-the-press/anf-s-twitter-account-issued-10th-ban-from-ankara-29572 |website=ANF News |access-date=11 January 2019}}{{Cite news |date=9 August 2016 |title=DİHA, ANF ve Özgür Gündem’in Twitter hesaplarına erişim engeli |trans-title=Access to Twitter accounts of DİHA, ANF and Özgür Gündem blocked |url=http://www.imctv.com.tr/diha-anf-ozgur-gundemin-twitter-hesaplarina-erisim-engeli/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813184503/http://www.imctv.com.tr/diha-anf-ozgur-gundemin-twitter-hesaplarina-erisim-engeli/ |archive-date=13 August 2016 |access-date=21 January 2025 |work=IMC TV |language=Turkish}} and its journalists have been detained in Turkey. In addition, Twitter has blocked the ANF at the request of the Turkish government.
In 2011 it was the target of a cyber-attack which removed access to the site.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2011 |title=Cyber Attack on ANF News Agency |url=https://bianet.org/haber/cyber-attack-on-anf-news-agency-130775 |url-status=live |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Bianet}}
Detentions and killings of ANF staff
Under the pseudonym Silan Aras, Ayfer Serçe wrote for the ANF until her death in July 2006 in West Azerbaijan province, while covering regional suicides.{{Cite news |date=24 July 2006 |title=Fırat news agency reporter shot on duty. |url=https://sendika.org/2006/07/firat-news-agency-reporter-shot-on-duty-8377 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122165552/https://sendika.org/2006/07/firat-news-agency-reporter-shot-on-duty-8377 |archive-date=22 January 2025 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Sendika.org}}{{Cite news |date=23 Apr 2024 |title=Özgür Basın şehitleri |url=https://hawarnews.com/tr/ozgur-basin-sehitleri |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213063511/https://hawarnews.com/tr/ozgur-basin-sehitleri |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Hawar News Agency |language=Turkish}} Reporters Without Borders condemned the killing and demanded the Iranian government investigate.{{Cite web |date=2006-08-23 |title=New information about Kurdish journalist's death in northwestern Iran {{!}} RSF |url=https://rsf.org/en/new-information-about-kurdish-journalists-death-northwestern-iran |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424221200/https://rsf.org/en/new-information-about-kurdish-journalists-death-northwestern-iran |archive-date=24 April 2023 |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=rsf.org |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=11 August 2006 |title=Media Watchdog Condemns Death Of Turkish Journalist In Iran |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1070512.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130212522/https://www.rferl.org/a/1070512.html |archive-date=30 November 2020 |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}}
In 2014, Leyla Yildizhin,{{Cite book |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000388110.locale=en |title=Iraq 2020: report as received by the Member State in response to the UNESCO Director-General’s request for information on the status of judicial investigations of cases of killed journalists |publisher=Iraq. Permanent Delegation to UNESCO |year=2020 |location=France |pages=17 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Poletti |first=Fabio |title=Deniz Firat (1984 - 2014) |url=https://it.gariwo.net/giusti/resistenza-al-fondamentalismo/deniz-firat-26370.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001125512/https://it.gariwo.net/giusti/resistenza-al-fondamentalismo/deniz-firat-26370.html |archive-date=1 October 2023 |access-date=22 January 2025 |website={{ill|Gariwo la foresta dei Giusti|it}}}} writing as Deniz Firat, was killed by shrapnel in Makhmur, Iraq while working as a freelancer for ANF.{{Cite news |date=9 August 2014 |title=Female Kurdish reporter killed in Iraq conflict |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/media/television-and-radio/2014/08/09/Female-Kurdish-reporter-killed-in-Iraq-conflict- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307131006/https://english.alarabiya.net/media/television-and-radio/2014/08/09/Female-Kurdish-reporter-killed-in-Iraq-conflict- |archive-date=7 March 2021 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Al Arabiya}}{{Cite news |last=Saliba |first=Emmanuelle |date=11 August 2014 |title=Kurdish Reporter Risks Life to Interview ISIS Militants |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/kurdish-reporter-risks-life-interview-isis-militants-n178041 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811230045/https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/kurdish-reporter-risks-life-interview-isis-militants-n178041 |archive-date=11 August 2014 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=NBC News}}{{Cite news |last=Faqih |first=Mansyur |date=16 Aug 2014 |title=Para Reporter Ini Bahayakan Nyawa Wawancarai Militan ISIS |trans-title=These Reporters Risked Their Lives Interviewing ISIS Militants |url=https://internasional.republika.co.id/berita/naea1c/para-reporter-ini-bahayakan-nyawa-wawancarai-militan-isis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122160413/https://internasional.republika.co.id/berita/naea1c/para-reporter-ini-bahayakan-nyawa-wawancarai-militan-isis |archive-date=22 January 2025 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Republika (Indonesian newspaper) |language=Indonesian}}{{Cite news |date=10 August 2014 |title=Kurdish Journalist Deniz Firat Killed by IS Mortar |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/100820141 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213619/https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/100820141 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=Rudaw}}
ANF writer Zeynep Kuray was detained from 2011 to 2013 in a wider Turkish investigation into the operations of the Kurdistan Communities Union, and has been additionally but briefly detained since.
= Arrest of Maxime Azadi =
On 15 December 2016, French-Turkish ANF journalist Maxime Azadi was arrested in Belgium after Turkey issued an Interpol Red Notice for his arrest. The ANF appealed for his immediate release.{{cite web |date=21 December 2016 |title=Statement on the arrest of ANF News Director in Belgium |url=https://anfenglishmobile.com/freedom-of-the-press/statement-on-the-arrest-of-anf-news-director-in-belgium-17691 |website=ANF News |access-date=11 January 2019}}
The arrest was condemned by press freedom groups, who said the incident highlighted Turkey's crackdown on press freedoms following the 2016 coup attempt.{{cite news |last=Jacinto |first=Leela |date=22 December 2016 |title=French-Turkish reporter's arrest in Belgium shows extent of Turkey's press crackdown |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20161222-turkey-eu-kurdish-press-french-journalist-arrest-belgium |work=France 24 |access-date=11 January 2019}} The UK-based NGO Fair Trials described his arrest as Turkish misuse of Interpol's Red Notice system,{{cite web |last1=Russell |first1=Jago |last2=Torner |first2=Carles |date=25 August 2017 |title=Letter to INTERPOL General Secretary on Turkish Writers |url=https://www.fairtrials.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Letter-to-INTERPOL-GS-Turkish-Writers.pdf |publisher=Fair Trials |access-date=10 January 2019}} and the Council of Europe's Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists released a media freedom alert pertaining to the arrest.{{cite web |date=21 December 2016 |title=Belgium Arrests a Kurdish Journalist at Turkey's Request |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/media-freedom/all-alerts/-/soj/alert/21902517 |website=Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222205043/https://www.coe.int/en/web/media-freedom/all-alerts/-/soj/alert/21902517 |archive-date=22 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}
The European Federation of Journalists released a statement, stating "We are very concerned about this arrest which constitutes a dangerous precedent. More than 120 journalists are behind bars in Turkey, where the authorities do not hesitate to abuse anti-terrorist laws to suppress the opposition press. Belgium and other European states should not be complicit in the massive purges ordered by the Turkish government. Dozens of Turkish and Kurdish journalists exiled in Europe would be in a situation of dramatic insecurity".{{cite news |date=20 December 2016 |title=La Belgique arrête un journaliste kurde sur requête de la Turquie |url=http://europeanjournalists.org/fr/2016/12/20/la-belgique-arrete-un-journaliste-kurde-sur-requete-de-la-turquie/ |work=European Federation of Journalists |language=fr |access-date=11 January 2019}}
On 23 December that year, Azadi was released on bail,{{cite web |date=23 December 2016 |title=Turkey gets head of Kurdish news agency arrested in Belgium |url=https://ecpmf.eunews/threats/turkey-gets-head-of-kurdish-news-agency-arrested-in-belgium |website=European Centre for Press and Media Freedom |access-date=11 January 2019}}{{dead link|date=May 2023}} leading the Council of Europe to mark the case resolved, concluding it "was no longer an active threat to media freedom".
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://anfenglish.com/}} {{in lang|ku|tr|en|ar|fa|de|es|ru}}
{{Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2005 establishments in the Netherlands
Category:Companies based in Amsterdam
Category:Kurdish-language mass media
Category:Kurdish-language websites
Category:News agencies based in the Netherlands