Amid reactions Turkish police post video of journalists in reverse handcuffs

The Turkish police posted on Twitter a video showing Kurdish journalists dragged in reverse handcuffs, as it claimed in a written statement that "Mezopotamya News Agency has been operating under the press committee of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK)."

Eleven journalists, editors and reporters working for Mezopotamya News Agency (MA) and JinNews, an all women news agency, were arrested in dawn raids on Tuesday.

Nacho Sanchez Amor, MEP and European Parliament Standing Rapporteur on Turkey, criticized the recent arrests of journalists: He told Euronews Turkish:

"It is not yet clear whether or not the raids and arrests have been carried out in the context of the recently enacted 'disinformation legislation.' If this is the case, it will confirm the concerns expressed by many people in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. In any case, this is another indication that the situation regarding basic freedoms, particularly media freedom and freedom of expression, has been further exacerbated in Turkey, and that the situation is grave especially considering the critical process before the coming elections."

Turkey's Journalists' Union (TGS) also reacted to the recent arrests, saying:

"Several journalists were detained in dawn raids on their houses in the days the censorship legislation has taken effect. Their offices were searched, and they were denied access to their lawyers. You will not be able to criminalize journalism through such practices!"