As the AKP government increases its attacks on the Kurdish media, Istanbul 8th Penal Court of Peace has ordered the closure of Istanbul based daily Özgür Gündem on the grounds of 'spreading PKK propaganda'.

The closure order of the court has also been reported by the AKP media but not conveyed to the newspaper yet.

During the early 90's, dozens of journalists for Özgür Gündem were murdered and the newspaper office in Istanbul was bombed.