Journalist Pınar Barut Receives Death and Arson Threats

According to the information published by Özgür Gazete, the messages warned that both the newspaper’s offices and Barut’s home would be set on fire. The threats also referenced personal details about her family members, including the names of relatives and information about her children’s schools. One message claimed her husband’s vehicle would be attacked.

The senders demanded money, stating there was a “one-million-dollar bounty per head,” and gave a two-day deadline for payment. They warned that “bullets would speak” if the payment was not made.

The messages were believed to have been sent from fake SIM cards with possible links to the United States, preventing security units from conducting technical surveillance. It is also alleged that organised groups may have used individuals in the northern part of Cyprus to gather personal information about targeted people.