The detentions came ahead of Turkey's upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections May 14, which are seen as the biggest electoral challenge that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Less than three weeks before the Turkish elections, the Erdoğan government launched a police raid on Kurdish politicians, journalists, lawyers and artists, as it emerged that Ukraine planned to attack Russian forces through Kurdish militias in Syria.
At least ten journalists with pro-Kurdish media outlets were arrested on 25 April for alleged membership of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Turkish authorities to release them and stop these repeated press freedom violations.
Absent any credible evidence of wrongdoing, Turkey should release dozens of Kurdish journalists, political party officials, and lawyers arrested in raids on April 25, 2023, in advance of the May 14 national elections, 18 organizations including Human Rights Watch said today. The following is their statement: