Diyarbakır radio station faces repeated sabotage attempts as chief editor protests authorities

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Amed Radyo, a radio station based in Diyarbakır, faced an obstruction as its cables were mysteriously cut off in what was the sixth similar incident recently, according to the outlet's chief editor.

Ferad Memedoğlu expressed his disapproval by staging an individual protest outside the Diyarbakır Governor's Office, denouncing the recurring acts of theft and broadcast interference and the inaction of the authorities.

Memedoğlu told bianet that he had requested a meeting with officials at the governor's office, but his request was unanswered.

According to Memedoğlu, these incidents appear to be deliberate attempts to target Kurdish media outlets, with a pattern of cable cutting and theft occurring periodically.

"Same people are behind the thefts each time"

Memedoğlu recalled that the authorities had promised to take precautions, saying, "On January 10, on the Journalists' Day, the Diyarbakır governor promised to address the grievances of radio and television owners. They were going to build a center and implement a security system. The first part of the road was built, but the rest never followed through."

"We know that the same individuals are behind these thefts each time. They always carry out the same pattern. We installed security cameras, but they were stolen too. Alarm systems don't provide a solution; it's not a humane living space. When we report incidents, it's not easy to reach them. The lack of coordination in the police department is causing us distress."

Amed Radio began broadcasting in 2010 after Ferat Mehmetoğlu's application to Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) was approved. The station provides hourly Kurdish and Turkish news services and offers bilingual broadcasts through its internet news website. (ZA/EMK/VK)