2024: May wk1 --  April wk 4 part3 -- April wk 4 part2
Click here for an overview of the Women's Arab Spring Revolt 1.2 2024 and 2023

 When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
Gino d'Artali
and: My mother (1931-1997) always said to me <Mi figlio, non esistono notizie <vecchie> perche puoi imparare qualcosa da qualsiasi notizia.> Translated: <My son, there is no such thing as so called 'old' news because you can learn something from any news.>
Gianna d'Artali.


Roza Metina
Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 3, 2024 - by MEDINE MAMEDOGLU
<<World Press Freedom Day: We resist oppression
We welcome the World Press Freedom Day by resisting oppression, said Roza Metina, President of the Mesopotamia Women Journalists' Association. <The attacks on press freedom are not a coincidence. They are against the struggle for truth.>
Amed (Diyarbakır)- The United Nations declared May 3 World Press Freedom Day in 1993. Since then May 3 is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. Although freedom of the press is guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and under the Turkish Constitution, journalists and media workers in the country are continually subjected to all kinds of oppression. 44 journalists are currently behind bars in Turkey, according to the recent report released by the Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association. Seven of 44 imprisoned journalists are women. Two journalists were taken into custody, three journalists were subjected to ill-treatment, one journalist was threatened and another journalist was prevented from doing journalism, according to the report released by the Mesopotamia Women Journalists' Association in March 2024. In April 2024, Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Esra Solin Dal was imprisoned for her reports. In Turkey and Northern Kurdistan, journalists face all kinds of oppression such as arbitrary arrest and detention over terrorism charges for doing journalism. NuJINHA spoke to Roza Metina, President of the Mesopotamia Women Journalists' Association (Turkish: Mezopotamya Kadın Gazeteciler Dernegi,MKG) about the World Press Freedom Day. <We welcome World Press Freedom Day by resisting oppression,> she said. <The governments in Turkey first target journalists when the country suffers from crises and depression. <The World Press Freedom Day is an important day for journalists. The Kurdish journalists welcome this day by resisting attacks and oppression. Our colleagues were taken into custody in the house raids in Istanbul and Ankara on May 22. They were taken into custody because they do journalism. On the same day, two pro-Kurdish channels were raided in Belgium. These police raids were conducted on Kurdish Journalism Day and they are not a coincidence. The aim of this crackdown is to intimidate the Kurdish media.>
'Women journalists are first targeted'
Women journalists are subjected to oppression in all facets of life, Roza Metina emphasized, adding, <They (the ruling party) first target women journalists to prevent their violations and corruption from being revealed. Women play an important role in society and everyone knows that when a woman improves herself, she also improves society and that when a woman struggles for the truth, she also affects her society. Women journalists are subjected to a systematic attack because they play an important role in journalism. Women journalists are prevented from doing their profession, subjected to threats and verbal harassment.>
'We will always stand firm'
What is important is to grow the struggle and solidarity against oppression, underlined Roza Metina. <Despite all the attacks, we will keep doing journalism. These attacks are attacks on press freedom. The AKP/MHP government wants to send a message to the Kurdish people by attacking journalists. As women journalists, we will always stand firm against these attacks. Such policies never discourage us but make us stronger. We will keep doing journalism.> >>
Source incl. video:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/world-press-freedom-day-we-resist-despite-oppression-34993


Promoting reading culture in Aleppo
Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 3, 2024 - by HESNA MIHEMED
<<Nagihan Akarsel's dream promotes reading culture in Aleppo
The Nagihan Akarsel Reading House, opened in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood on October 4, 2023, allows people of all ages to easily access books and creates a reading culture in society.
Aleppo- The Nagihan Akarsel Reading House, a library, was opened in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood on October 4, 2023 by the Jineology Academy. There are various historical, cultural and philosophical books in Kurdish, Arabic and Turkish languages at the reading house. NuJINHA spoke to an employee of the reading house and the readers visiting it.
'The first library opened for students'
<As the members of the Jineology Academy, we decided to open a library for students because students suffered a lot especially after the Feb.6 earthquake so that they would have a space to study,> said Orivan Ebdo, an employee of the reading house. <Our library was opened and it is the first library opened for students in North and East Syria. It is important for students to be able to continue their education without being affected by the current situation and siege in the neighborhood.>
'It is for people of all ages'
The library has many books and develops projects for young people. <Young people read many books to learn about other cultures. The library provides scientific, cultural and philosophical books to them. Not only young people but also people of all ages come to the library to read books. We plan to form a student group to watch cultural and historical documentaries. Our aim is to provide a space to students away from war and siege.>
'They are the symbols of our resistance'
The reading house is named after Nagihan Akarsel because <this project was the dream of Nagihan Akarsel. Nagihan was a Kurdish woman dreaming to create a reading culture in society. We always vow to realize the dreams of resisting women. They are the symbols of our resistance,> Orivan Ebdo told us.
She spends her days at the library
Şehed Xeluf is a young Arab woman frequently visiting the reading house. <I live in the neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsood. I always come to the reading house because I have no opportunity to study at home. At the library, we study and read English and Kurdish books. We learn Kurdish history and culture by reading books. My friends and I come together at the library to share our thoughts with each other. The reading house is a great opportunity for us to improve ourselves. Every day, I come to the library in the morning and read books until 5 p.m. I spend my days at the library.> >>
Source incl. video:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/nagihan-akarsel-s-dream-promotes-reading-culture-in-aleppo-34994?page=1


47 people taken into custody
Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 3, 2024
<<47 people taken into custody in Istanbul
47 people have been taken into custody in dawn house raids conducted in Istanbul for trying to march from Saraçhane to Taksim Square in order to celebrate the International Workers' Day on May 1.
News Center- Turkish police conducted dawn house raids in Istanbul on Friday, detaining at least 47 people. According to the received reports, the detained people are workers, who tried to march from Saraçhane to Taksim Square in order to celebrate the International Workers' Day on May . <We have learned that 47 people were taken into custody in dawn house raids on the ground that they defied the unlawful ban on May Day gathering at Taksim Square. We will go to the Istanbul Security Directorate in Vatan Street to follow up on the situation of detained people,> the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) Istanbul branch said in a statement.>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/47-people-taken-into-custody-in-istanbul-34995?page=1


Pen vs sword
Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 3, 2024
<<Turkey ranked 158th in RSF's 2024 World Press Freedom Index
The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published its 2024 World Press Freedom Index on the World Press Freedom Day, May 3. Turkey is ranked 158th out of 180 countries in the index.
News Center- The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published its 2024 World Press Freedom Index on the World Press Freedom Day, May 3. Turkey is ranked 158th out of 180 countries. Political interests stifle journalism in several countries that are candidates for EU membership -Bosnia-Herzegovina (81st), Serbia (98th) and Albania (99th). Türkiye (158th) continues to imprison journalists and undermine the media by means of online censorship and its control of the judiciary, the Index noted.
Governments fail to protect journalism
<A growing number of governments and political authorities are not fulfilling their role as guarantors of the best possible environment for journalism and for the public's right to reliable, independent, and diverse news and information. RSF sees a worrying decline in support and respect for media autonomy and an increase in pressure from the state or other political actors,> said RSF in the global analysis of the Index. <As more than half the world's population goes to the polls in 2024, RSF is warning of a worrying trend revealed by the 2024 World Press Freedom Index: a decline in the political indicator, one of five indicators detailed in the Index,> said RSF editorial director Anne Bocande. <States and other political forces are playing a decreasing role in protecting press freedom. This disempowerment sometimes goes hand in hand with more hostile actions that undermine the role of journalists, or even instrumentalise the media through campaigns of harassment or disinformation. Journalism worthy of that name is, on the contrary.>
Palestine is ranked among the last 10 with regard to security for journalists
Palestine is ranked 157th out of 180 countries and territories surveyed in the overall 2024 World Press Freedom Index, but it is ranked among the last 10 with regard to security for journalists. According to RSF, the war in Gaza has been marked by a record number of violations against journalists and the media since October 2023. More than 100 Palestinian reporters have been killed by the Israel Defence Forces, including at least 22 in the course of their work.
'2024 is the biggest election year in world history'
While 2024 is the biggest election year in world history, 2023 also saw decisive elections, especially in Latin America, that were won by self-proclaimed predators of press freedom and media plurality, like Javier Milei in Argentina (down 26 to 66th), who shut down the country's biggest news agency in a worrisome symbolic act. <Elections are often accompanied by violence against journalists, as in Nigeria (112th) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (123rd). The military juntas that seized power in coups in the Sahel, especially Niger (down 19 to 80th), Burkina Faso (down 28 to 86th) and Mali (down one to 114th), continue to tighten their grip on the media and obstruct journalists' work. Recep Tayyip Erdogan's reelection in Türkiye is also a source of some concern: ranked 158th, the country's placement in the Index continues to lose points in the Index,> said RSF.
In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, media censorship has intensified in a spectacular mimicry of Russian repressive methods, especially in Belarus (down 10 to 167th), Georgia (103rd), Kyrgyzstan (120th), and Azerbaijan (down 13 to 164th). Kremlin influence has reached as far as Serbia (down seven to 98th), where pro-government media carry Russian propaganda and the authorities threaten exiled Russian journalists. Russia (162nd), where Vladimir Putin was unsurprisingly reelected in 2024, continues to wage a war in Ukraine (61st) that has had a big impact on the media ecosystem and journalists' safety.>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/turkey-ranked-158th-in-rsf-s-2024-world-press-freedom-index-34996?page=1


YRA
Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 3, 2024
<<YRA: Do not remain silent against attacks on journalists
The Union of Free Media (Kurdish:Yekitiya Ragihandina Azad-YRA) has released a statement calling on the UN and international organizations not to remain silent against attacks on the freedom of press and journalists in North and East Syria.
News Center- The Union of Free Media (Kurdish:Yekitiya Ragihandina Azad-YRA) has released a statement to mark the World Press Freedom Day. Violations against the freedom of press and journalists have globally intensified despite UN Security Council Resolution 2222 on protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict, the statement emphasized.
'Do not remain silent against attacks on journalists'
Pointing to Turkish attacks on journalists in North and East Syria, the statement recalled the Turkish drone attack on a vehicle belonging to the all-female broadcaster JIN TV, killing driver Najm el-Din Faisal Haj Sinan and injuring journalist Dalila Agid. <The Turkish state targets journalists because it is afraid of journalists,> said the statement, reminding the attacks on journalists in Southern Kurdistan. <Sleman Mohammed Ahmed, an Arabic editor for RojNews and member of the YRA, was arrested on October 25, 2023 at the border of Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan and his whereabouts are still unknown.> In the statement, the YRA condemned the attacks and rights violations against journalists all around the world and called on the UN and international organizations not to <remain silent against the attacks on the freedom of press and journalists in North and East Syria. Fulfill your duty according to international conventions.> >>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/yra-do-not-remain-silent-against-attacks-on-journalists-34998?page=1


Feminist Night March
Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 2, 2024
<<Women standing trial for participating in 2020 Feminist Night March acquitted
35 people, including 33 women, stood trial for participating in the Feminist Night March in Istanbul on March 8, 2020. 35 people have been acquitted of all charges.
News Center- 35 people, including 33 women, stood trial on charges of <opposing the Law on Demonstrations and Marches No. 2911>, <resisting public officers> and <damaging public property> for participating in the Feminist Night March in Istanbul's Beyoglu district on March 8, 2020. The 10th hearing of the trial against them was held on Thursday at the Istanbul 58th Criminal Court of First Instance. At the hearing, the prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of up to three years against each person on charges of <opposing the Law on Demonstrations and Marches No.2911>.
35 people have been acquitted of all charges against them by the court.>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/women-participating-in-2020-feminist-night-march-acquitted-34992?page=1

Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 2, 2024
<<182 of 217 detained people in Istanbul released
217 people were taken into custody in Istanbul on Wednesday. 182 of them have been released from custody.
News Center- Police attacked the people trying to go to Istanbul's Taksim Square to celebrate the International Workers’ Day by using tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets and detained 217 people. 182 of 217 detained people have been released from custody today. 35 detained people have been referred to the courthouse upon the order of the prosecution office.>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/182-of-217-detained-people-in-istanbul-released-34990?page=1
 
Women's Liberation Front 2019/cryfreedom.net 2024