The police have arrested a number of Turkish journalists who have been covering the earthquakes in that country since the beginning of this month. BBC News.

Turkish journalists have been dealing with a controversial new law since October 2022. This makes it possible to arrest reporters for spreading disinformation. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom organization, at least three journalists are on trial for reporting from the disaster zone.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says such a law is necessary to protect the population. Observers say freedom of the press is restricted in Turkey. Violation of the law can result in a prison sentence of three years.

During a visit to the disaster area, Erdogan referred to the prosecution of people who spread “false news” and “cause social chaos”.

Freelance journalist Mir Ali Koçer had to come to the police station for allegedly violating the new misinformation law. He himself says he was very careful in his critical reports about the assistance given to the victims. Then the police interrogated him for allegedly spreading false news.

Reporters Without Borders, an organization that works for press freedom, calls the investigation into Cougar’s case “ridiculous”. The Turkish authorities refused to answer questions from BBC News.