Journalist Zeynep Durgut taken into custody

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

With her house raided in the early morning hours today (February 14), journalist Zeynep Durgut, a reporter for Mezopotamya Agency (MA), has been detained in Cizre district in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeastern province of Şırnak. The reason for her detention is yet unknown. 

While the journalist has been reportedly detained as part of an investigation conducted by the Şırnak Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, no statement has been released as to the reason for her detention.

Taken into custody and handcuffed behind her back, journalist Durgut was referred to the Şırnak Provincial Security Directorate while she was on her way to the Cizre District Security Directorate. Her technical materials found in her house during the search have been seized.

Zeynep Durgut was one of the journalists who were put on trial for reporting on Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut, two citizens who had been thrown from a helicopter after being detained by soldiers in Van's Çatak district. Charged with "membership of a [terrorist / illegal] organization" over their news, Durgut and her four colleagues were acquitted on Janaury 6, 2022.

CLICK - Reporting on citizens thrown from a helicopter, journalists acquitted a year later

(HA/SD)