FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• DFG: Three journalists sent to prison in November 

  The November report published by the DFG on the rights violations against journalists said that 40 reporters are in prison, while 21 were taken into custody.
• Tunç: We will not be the ‘reasonable journalists’ that the state wants 

  Following the arrest of ten critical journalists, Hayri Tunç, friend and colleague of Erdoğan Alayumat, said: "We are not the 'reasonable journalists' that the state wants, and we will not be."
• Two journalists remanded in custody 

  Two of the journalists detained on Tuesday within the scope of the investigation launched by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office have been remanded in custody.
• Nine writers and journalists released 

  Nine writers and journalists who were taken into custody as part of the Eskişehir Public Prosecutor's Office investigation have been released.
• Journalists and writers taken into custody in Amed appear in court 

  Journalists and writers taken into custody in Amed were referred to court. Two other journalists were also referred to court in Eskişehir.
• Stop the repression of journalists, say media organizations 

  After the arrest of ten journalists in Turkey for alleged links to the PKK, media workers are demanding their immediate release.
• Journalist Havin Derya taken into custody 

  Journalist Havin Derya was detained as part of an investigation launched in Eskişehir.
• DFG calls for solidarity with detained journalists, calling for their immediate release 

  The DFG protested the detention of several journalists and demanded their immediate release.
• Prison sentence against journalist Beritan Canözer confirmed 

  Beritan Canözer has been working as a journalist in Turkey for ten years. Her home was searched six times by the police, she was taken into custody five times and arrested twice. Now she faces another prison sentence.
• MLSA 2024 Justice Monitoring Program Report: Thinking criminalized, detention as punishment 

  A total of 1,856 people, including 366 journalists, stood trial during the 2023-2024 judicial year.
• Prison sentence for Kurdish journalist Özgür Paksoy upheld 

  Journalist Özgür Paksoy was sentenced to 2 years, 13 months and 15 days in prison for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, namely the PKK.
• Journalist Mizgin Sönük deported to Erzincan prison 

  Journalist Mizgin Sönük and Batman Municipality Council member Hatice Taş were transferred to Erzincan Women’s Closed Prison after being detained during the resistance to the trustee coup.
• Ban on traveling abroad imposed on 20 journalists continues 

  The hearing of the trial of journalists who were arrested after an operation in Amed in 2022, decided to continue the international travel ban against them.
• Journalists Gulistan Tara and Hero Behadin's file delivered to EU Representation 

  The file prepared regarding the death of journalists Gulistan Tara and Hero Behadin was delivered to the EU Iraq Representation, which visited the Kurdistan Region.
• People prevent Turkish state forces attempting to detain a journalist in Batman 

  The state forces that threatened journalists with guns and tried to kidnap Yeni Yaşam employee Veysi Akören fled after the people's reaction.
• Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association: 6 journalists taken into custody 

  The Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG) has released its October report on rights violations faced by female journalists.
• Turkish court orders confiscation of Yeni Yaşam newspaper 

  A Court in Turkey ordered the confiscation of the 4 November issue of the Yeni Yaşam newspaper because it published a photo of Abdullah Öcalan.
• Journalists beaten by police in Batman 

  New footage of the violence against JinNews journalist Pelşin Çetinkaya and Yeni Yaşam newspaper employee Veysi Aküren has emerged. The violence continued all the way to the police station.
• 11 journalists sentenced to prison in Turkey in October 

  According to the DFG report, 11 journalists were sentenced, 9 were detained, 11 were subjected to ill-treatment, 7 were threatened in Turkey in October.
• Gendarmes raid house where journalists Ren and Yıldız stayed in Adıyaman 

  The house where journalists Derya Ren and Kamber Yıldız stayed in Adıyaman, was raided by gendarmes.
• Yeni Yaşam newspaper employee detained in Dersim 

  Yeni Yaşam newspaper employee Azime Bozkurt was detained in Dersim. The newspaper publishes in the tradition of the free Kurdish press and its staff is subject to arbitrary persecution.
• New investigation against journalist Abdurrahman Gök already on trial 

  In the ongoing ‘terror’ trial against Abdurrahman Gök, it came out that the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated new proceedings against the 44-year-old journalist.
• Trials of journalists Dicle Müftüoğlu and Abdurrahman Gök to resume this week 

  In the next few days, the proceedings against Dicle Müftüoğlu and Abdurrahman Gök will continue in Amed. Both journalists face long prison sentences. The Dicle Firat Journalists Association is calling for solidarity.
• 62 civil society and press organizations condemn Turkey’s decision to shutter Açık Radyo 

  Press freedom and freedom of expression groups, media outlets and civil society condemn the regulator’s decision to shutter Açık Radyo in Turkey.
• Yeni Yaşam newspaper issue to be confiscated over the headline ‘The Kurds’ dream is to meet Öcalan’ 

  The Turkish judiciary continues measures against the publications of the Kurdish people.