Mezopotamya Agency
{{Short description|Turkish news agency}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Mezopotamya Agency
| logo = Mezopotamya Ajansı Logosu.png
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| founded = {{Start date and age|2017|09|20|df=yes}}
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = Beyoğlu, Istanbul
| hq_location_country = Turkey
| area_served = Worldwide
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Mezopotamya Agency ({{Langx|tr|Mezopotamya Ajansı }}/ MA) is a Kurdish news agency based in Beyoğlu, Istanbul.{{Cite web |title=contact - Mezopotamya News |url=http://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/ |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=Mezopotamya Agency}} It is described as pro-Kurdish by the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists of the Council of Europe (COE),{{Cite web|title=Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists|url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/media-freedom/all-results?p_p_id=sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&p_p_col_id=column-4&p_p_col_count=1&_sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet_keywords=&_sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet_orderByCol=&_sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet_orderByType=asc&_sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet_selectedCategories=11709504%2C11709592&_sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet_selectedStringFilters=&_sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet_cmd=get_pdf_dashboard|access-date=12 July 2021|website=Council of Europe}} and left-wing by the International Observatory of Human Rights.{{Cite web|title=Four Turkish journalists arrested: Turkey remains the worst jailer of journalists globally|url=https://observatoryihr.org/news/four-turkish-journalists-arrested-turkey-remains-the-worst-jailer-of-journalists-globally/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=International Observatory of Human Rights|language=en}} It publishes articles in Kurdish, Turkish and English language. Mezopotamya Ajansı's www.mezopotamyaajansi35.com website, which had been blocked 34 times before, was also blocked on the grounds of 'protection of national security and public order' by Erzurum 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace on March 12.{{Cite web |last=Mezopotamya |first=Ajansı |date=12 March 2024 |title= Mezopotamya Ajansı'na erişim engeli - Diken|url=https://www.diken.com.tr/mezopotamya-ajansina-erisim-engeli/ |website=Diken}}
History
MA was established on 20 September 2017 following a purge of many pro-Kurdish newspapers and news agencies.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-03|title=Reporting under fire: Mezopotamya news agency|url=https://internationaljournalists.org/reporting-under-fire-mezopotamya-news-agency/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=International Journalists|language=en-US}} It publishes articles critical on the Turkish Government and the access to the website operated by Mezopotamya Agency has been blocked for more than 20 times by the Turkish authorities{{Cite web|date=2021-03-03|title=Turkish court blocks access to Mezopotamya News Agency's website for the 28th time|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-court-blocks-access-to-mezopotamya-news-agencys-website-for-the-28th-time-news-56472|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Gazete Duvar|language=tr-TR}} upon which each time Mezopotamya released their reports over a new domain. The agency often publishes articles from the predominantly Kurdish provinces of Turkey.
MA's staff is often targeted by the Turkish authorities, their offices raided, their equipment confiscated and the journalists prohibited from entering public institutions. Several of its reporters have been arrested or been sentenced to prison terms.{{Cite web|last=Luque|first=Javier|date=27 November 2020|title=Turkey must stop harassment of Mezopotamya Agency reporters|url=https://freeturkeyjournalists.ipi.media/turkey-must-stop-harassment-of-mezopotamya-agency-reporters/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Free Turkey Journalists|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=7 January 2020|title=Mezopotamya Agency Reporter Barış Polat Sentenced to 6 Years, 3 Months in Prison|url=https://bianet.org/english/law/218212-mezopotamya-agency-reporter-baris-polat-sentenced-to-6-years-3-months-in-prison|website=Bianet}} Journalists Sadiye Eser and Sadık Topaloğlu were arrested in December 2019 accused of being a member of a terrorist organization and released pending trial a few months later in March 2020.{{Cite web|date=27 March 2020|title=Verdict of Release for Journalists Sadiye Eser, Sadık Topaloğlu|url=https://bianet.org/english/law/222031-verdict-of-release-for-journalists-sadiye-eser-sadik-topaloglu|website=Bianet}} On 6 October 2020, two journalists of the news agency were imprisoned after they reported that two peasants were thrown out of a Turkish military helicopter in Van Province.{{Cite web|title=Turkey: Four journalists detained after reporting on alleged torture / IFJ|url=https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/health-and-safety/article/turkey-four-journalists-detained-after-reporting-on-alleged-torture-1.html|access-date=2021-07-12|website=www.ifj.org|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116105609/https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/health-and-safety/article/turkey-four-journalists-detained-after-reporting-on-alleged-torture-1.html|url-status=dead}} They were released in April 2021.{{Cite web|date=8 April 2021|title=Court rejects appeal against release of journalists reporting on torture|url=https://m.bianet.org/english/print/242122-court-rejects-appeal-against-release-of-journalists-reporting-on-torture|website=Bianet}}
Mehmet Aslan, who covered the situation of the Kurdish prisoners was imprisoned in January 2021, and released pending trial with an international travel ban in May 2021.{{Cite web|date=27 May 2021|title=Journalist Mehmet Aslan released|url=https://m.bianet.org/english/law/244693-journalist-mehmet-aslan-released|access-date=13 July 2021|website=Bianet}} Sixteen journalists who were detained in Diyarbakır on 8 June 2022 and charged with "illegal organization membership" were arrested on 16 June 2022. Mezopotamya Agency editors Ömer Çelik and Aziz Oruç were among the arrested journalists.{{Cite news |title= Diyarbakır'da gözaltına alınan gazetecilerden 16'sı tutuklandı: 'Sorguda haber içerikleri, yayın politikası ve haber dili soruldu'|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-61822181 |newspaper=BBC News Türkçe}} The journalists were released 13 months later at the first hearing held at Diyarbakır 4th Assize Court.{{Cite web |title= Tutuklu 15 gazeteci tahliye edildi: 13 aylık hukuksuzluk son buldu|url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/tutuklu-15-gazeteci-tahliye-edildi-13-aylik-hukuksuzluk-son-buldu-haber-1627847 |website=GazeteDuvar|date=7 December 2023 }}
On 25 April 2023, Mezopotamya Agency editor Abdurrahman Gök and the agency's reporter M. Şah Oruç were detained. On 27 April 2023, they were arrested on charges of "being a member of an illegal organization" and "making propaganda for an illegal organization" based on their news reports and sent to Diyarbakır High Security Prison No. 1.{{Cite web |title= Gazeteciler Beritan Canözer, Abdurrahman Gök, Mehmetşah Oruç ve Remzi Akkaya tutuklandı|url=https://t24.com.tr/haber/gazeteciler-beritan-canozer-ve-mehmetsah-oruc-tutuklama-talebiyle-mahkemeye-sevk-edildi,1106562#google_vignette |website=T24}} 6 months later, M. Şah Oruç was released.{{Cite web |title= Gazeteci Mehmet Şah Oruç'a 6 ay sonra tahliye|url=https://bianet.org/haber/gazeteci-mehmet-sah-oruca-6-ay-sonra-tahliye-287241 |website=bianet}}
Abdurrahman Gök, who had been repeatedly subjected to judicial pressure due to the photographs of Kemal Kurkut and was once again charged for his news reports, was released on 5 December 2023 at the second hearing of the case held at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court with a ban on leaving the country.{{Cite web |title= Abdurrahman Gök tahliye edildi|url=https://www.birgun.net/haber/abdurrahman-gok-tahliye-edildi-488482 |website=Birgün}} Mezopotamya Agency editors Dicle Müftüoğlu and Sedat Yılmaz were detained in Diyarbakır on April 29, 2023, taken to Ankara and arrested on May 3, 2023.{{Cite web |title= Gazeteciler Dicle Müftüoğlu ve Sedat Yılmaz tutuklandı|url=https://www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/28533/gazeteciler-dicle-muftuoglu-ve-sedat-yilmaz-tutuklandi |website=Agos|date=5 March 2023 }} Sedat Yılmaz was released at the hearing held on December 14, 2023.{{Cite web |title= Sedat Yılmaz: Sekiz aydır tutuklu olan gazeteci tahliye edildi|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/cv2jl5jrygzo#:~:text=Sekiz%20ayd%C4%B1r%20tutuklu%20olan%20Mezopotamya,'nden%20Diyarbak%C4%B1r'a%20getirilmi%C5%9Fti. |website=BBC| date=14 December 2023 }} He was acquitted at the second hearing held at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court on February 29, 2024.{{Cite web |title= Gazeteci Sedat Yılmaz "terör" suçlamalarından beraat etti - Expression Interrupted|url=https://expressioninterrupted.com/tr/gazeteci-sedat-yilmaz-teror-suclamalarindan-beraat-etti/ |website=expression}} Journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu was released after 306 days of detention at the 3rd hearing of the case held at Diyarbakır 5th Assize Court with a ban on leaving the country.{{Cite web |title= Gazeteci Dicle Müftüoğlu, 306 gün tutukluluğun ardından tahliye edildi|url=https://www.mlsaturkey.com/tr/gazeteci-dicle-mueftueoglu-306-guen-tutuklulugun-ardindan-tahliye-edildi#:~:text=Gazeteci%20Dicle%20M%C3%BCft%C3%BCo%C4%9Flu%2C%20306%20g%C3%BCn%20tutuklulu%C4%9Fun%20ard%C4%B1ndan%20tahliye%20edildi,-Duru%C5%9Fma%20Haberleri%2029&text=DFG%20E%C5%9F%20Ba%C5%9Fkan%C4%B1%20Dicle%20M%C3%BCft%C3%BCo%C4%9Flu,davan%C4%B1n%20%C3%BC%C3%A7%C3%BCnc%C3%BC%20celsesinde%20tahliye%20edildi. |website=MLSA| date=29 February 2024 }}
Mezopotamya Agency's Izmir office was raided by the police on 13 February 2024 and agency reporters Semra Turan Delal Akyüz and Tolga Güney were detained.{{Cite web |title= Suç işlemekten vazgeçin ve arkadaşlarımızı derhal serbest bırakın - Basın Açıklamaları|url=https://www.diclefiratgazeteciler.org/basin-aciklamalari/suc-islemekten-vazgecin-ve-arkadaslarimizi-derhal-serbest-birakin |website=DFG|date=13 February 2024 }} On 16 February 2024, Delal Akyüz and Tolga Güney were released on house arrest and Semra Turan was released on judicial control conditions.{{Cite web|title= Serbest bırakılan gazeteciler: Özgür basın susturulamaz|url= https://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/tum-haberler/content/view/233236|website= Mezopotamya Ajansı|access-date= 2024-03-11|archive-date= 2024-03-08|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240308065231/https://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/tum-haberler/content/view/233236|url-status= dead}}
On October 25, 2022, 11 Mezopotamya Agency (MA) and JINNEWS reporters were detained in house raids in Ankara, Istanbul, Van, Diyarbakır, Urfa, Mersin and Mardin as part of an investigation by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Managing Editor Diren Yurtsever, MA reporters Deniz Nazlım, Selman Güzelyüz, Zemo Ağgöz, Berivan Altan, Hakan Yalçın, Emrullah Acar and Ceylan Şahinli, and JINNEWS reporters Habibe Eren and Öznur Değer were detained during the raids. Mehmet Günhan, formerly an intern reporter at MA's Ankara bureau, was also detained in a house raid in Manisa. On October 29, 2022, MA Managing Editor Diren Yurtsever, MA reporters Berivan Altan, Deniz Nazlım, Selman Güzelyüz, Hakan Yalçın, Ceylan Şahinli, Emrullah Acar and JINNEWS reporters Habibe Eren and Öznur Değer were taken to court and arrested for "illegal organization membership".{{Cite web |title= 9 gazeteci tutuklandı|url=https://bianet.org/haber/9-gazeteci-tutuklandi-269194 |website=bianet}}
On May 16, 2023, 9 journalists were released at the first hearing held at Ankara 4th High Criminal Court.{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.evrensel.net/haber/490114/tutuklu-gazetecilerin-ilk-durusmasi-goruldu-9-gazetecinin-tahliyesine-karar-verildi |website=Evrensel}} The third hearing of the lawsuit filed against journalist Abdurrahman Gök for "being a member of an illegal organization" and "making illegal organization propaganda" due to his news reports, which resulted in his 225-day imprisonment, started at Diyarbakır 5th Assize Court. The court decided to give time to the lawyers to prepare their defense against the secret witness statements and to continue Gök's ban on leaving the country. The hearing was adjourned to June 11, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Gök |first=Abdurrahman |date=12 March 2024 |title= Gazeteci Gök'ün yurt dışı çıkış yasağı kaldırılmadı: İlk duruşmada serbest bırakılmıştı|url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gazeteci-gokun-yurt-disi-cikis-yasagi-kaldirilmadi-ilk-durusmada-serbest-birakilmisti-haber-1676061 |website=GazeteDuvar}}
References
External links
- {{Official website|http://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/en}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mezopotamya Agency}}
Category:Companies based in Istanbul
Category:News agencies based in Turkey
Category:Kurdish-language websites
Category:Turkish-language websites