Amed- Jinnews reporter was detained in a dawn house raid in the İpek neighborhood of Mardin’s Qoser (Kızıltepe) on Friday after being assaulted and handcuffed behind by special operations police.

The Mesopotamia Women Journalists’ Association (Turkish: Mezopotamya Kadın Gazeteciler Derneği, MKG) has released a written statement, demanding the immediate release of Öznur Değer.

“Security forces used arbitrary and excessive force,” said the statement, expressing their concern about the health of Öznur Değer. “We demand the immediate release of our colleague. Free press is a cornerstone of democratic societies. The crackdown and violence against women journalists cannot prevent people from learning the truth.”

Targeting journalists is an attempt to silence the free press, the association stressed in the statement, calling for solidarity with the free press. “Journalism is not a crime. The free press cannot be silenced.”