Turkish authorities must thoroughly investigate shooting of journalist Azim Deniz
“Impunity in violence against journalists inevitably results in even more violence and a less informed public everywhere, every time. It’s never too late to improve Turkey’s impunity track record for crimes committed against the news media” – CPJ
Turkish journalist arrested for reporting on corruption trial of judiciary members
Furkan Karabay was jailed pending trial on the suspicion of “making targets of those who were tasked to combat terrorism” and defamation.
International mission finds that Turkey’s press freedom crisis has deepened
Journalists continue to face harassment, arbitrary imprisonment and prosecution. Those responsible for attacks and threats against the press enjoy alarming levels of impunity.
Free expression groups condemn fifth imprisonment order against journalist Barış Pehlivan
Pehlivan was told to turn himself over to the Marmara Low Security Correctional Institution between August 1-15, 2023. He has already been incarcerated four times for his journalism.
Turkey: Courts block access to hundreds of news articles about President Erdoğan’s sons
The courts have blocked access to articles about corruption allegations against Bilal Erdoğan, and the 1998 car accident death of a singer, for which Burak Erdoğan stood trial.
Turkey: Court releases fifteen Kurdish journalists in Diyarbakır
After 13 months behind bars without appearing in court, the journalists were freed pending trial on terrorism-related charges.
Turkey leads the world in legal harassment of women journalists
According to a new report by the Coalition for Women in Journalism, Kurdish women journalists are targeted the most, with the authorities frequently using anti-terrorism legislation to persecute them.
EU should prioritise media reform and human rights in relations with Turkey
20 CSOs say failure to put reform of a hostile environment for journalism at the heart of future relations “would be a betrayal both of the Turkish public and of the EU’s values”.
Turkey: Police arrest at least 160 at banned Pride marches
The bans on Pride marches – although consistent with President Erdoğan anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric – have been found unlawful in several recent judicial decisions.
Rights groups condemn violent attack on journalist Sinan Aygül
The assailants – whom Aygül identified as the mayor of Tatvan’s security guards – warned the journalist against reporting on the mayor. He was hospitalised as a result of his injuries.
LGBTQI+ groups address Erdoğan’s victory speech
LGBTI+ organizations have expressed their concerns over President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s homophobic statements following his election victory.
Turkey: Where do the presidential candidates stand on free expression?
Ahead of the elections, Expression Interrupted analyses the approaches to media regulation and free speech of the two leading candidates: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
Turkey’s control of Internet threatens election
“The government should refrain from threatening or throttling social media platforms to prevent opposing views from circulating during the election” – HRW
Turkey: Over 120 detained in raids on pro-Kurdish groups
With just weeks to go before May’s elections, police raid homes and offices in 21 cities, detaining journalists, lawyers, politicians, activists and artists.