FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Police take journalist Sezgin Kartal into custody 

  Journalist Sezgin Kartal was detained in a police raid on his house in the morning.
• Prosecutor dismisses investigation into imprisoned women journalists' complaint over strip-searches 

  Prosecutors in Ankara have dismissed an investigation into imprisoned women journalists' complaint that they had been strip-searched at Sincan Women's Prison.
• DFG: 39 journalists arrested, 76 sentenced in 2022 

  The report published by the Dicle Firat Journalists Association (DFG) said that in 2022, 39 journalists were arrested and 76 sentenced.
• 68 journalists killed in 2022, says IFJ 

  The International Federation of Journalists released its annual list of journalists and media staff killed in work-related incidents.
• 87 journalists will start 2023 in prison 

  DFG executive Hakkı Boltan stated that 87 journalists will welcome the new year in prison. MKGP Spokesperson Roza Metina wanted society to protect journalists.
• Journalist Hayri Demir sentenced to imprisonment 

  Journalist Hayri Demir was sentenced in Ankara to almost two years in prison for "press propaganda for a terrorist organisation" after critical statements on digital networks.
• Turkish TV channel receives fine because of the host "praising terrorism with mimics" 

  Halk TV has received a fine reportedly because of the host "praising terrorism with mimics" during a program.
• Association of Documentary Filmmakers demands release of director Sibel Tekin 

  The Association of Documentary Filmmakers demanded the release of director Sibel Tekin, who was arrested on the grounds that she also shot a police vehicle while making a documentary.
• Documentary director Sibel Tekin sent to prison 

  Documentary director Sibel Tekin, who was taken into custody on 16 December, was sent to prison from the courthouse to which she was transferred, on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization".
• Documentary director Tekin to remain in custody one more day  

  Documentary director Sibel Tekin will remain in custody one more day due to the examination of the materials seized in her house.
• Call for the release of Kurdish journalists jailed for six months without indictment 

  Under the AKP/MHP regime, the media in Turkey are almost completely controlled. Only a few journalists are still trying to report independently, despite massive repression. As a result, 16 of them have been in prison without charge since June.
• Police take documentary director and journalist Sibel Tekin into custody 

  Documentary director and journalist Sibel Tekin was taken into custody by the police.
• RSF: A record total of 533 journalists are jailed worldwide 

  While 533 journalists are currently detained worldwide, a total of 57 paid with their lives for their commitment to report the news in 2022 – an 18.8% increase compared to 2021.
• Journalist Sinan Aygül imprisoned 

  The chairman of the Bitlis Journalists' Association, Sinan Aygül, has been arrested on charges of inciting hatred on Twitter.
• CPJ: Record number of journalists in prison 

  The Committee to Protect Journalists stated that the number of journalists imprisoned worldwide in 2022 broke a record. The Turkish state is among the top five countries where the most journalists are imprisoned.
• Police take journalist Sinan Aygül into custody 

  Journalist Sinan Aygül was taken into custody on the grounds of his news about harassment.
• Journalists from Kurdistan living in Switzerland establish "Kurdistan Journalists Association" 

  Journalists from Kurdistan living in Switzerland announced the establishment of the "Kurdistan Journalists Association".
• IFJ: 67 journalists killed so far in 2022 

  IFJ said that 67 journalists have been killed so far in 2022 around the world and demanded immediate action.
• Visit ban for JinNews correspondent imprisoned in Ankara 

  JinNews correspondent Öznur Değer, imprisoned in Sincan Women's Prison, is not allowed to receive visitors. The prison administration rejects visit requests as "suspicious".
• Kurdish journalist Nedim Türfent released from prison after more than six years  

  Nedim Türfent has been released after more than six years in prison in Turkey. The Kurdish journalist explained in front of the prison that release does not mean freedom and spoke about his arrested colleagues.
• Jailed women journalists: Our arrest was part of a plot 

  The Kurdish women journalists arrested by the AKP-MHP government said that the operation that targeted them was part of a plot.
• RSF calls for protection of media workers after ANHA journalist killed by Turkish airstrikes  

  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling for the protection of media workers after the Turkish airstrikes against northern Syria that killed a journalist and wounded another.
• Müftüoğlu: Government crackdown will not subdue free press 

  Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu said that no government in Turkey has ever been able to subdue the free press and cannot do so in the future.
• CPJ calls on Turkish authorities to investigate airstrikes that killed ANHA News Agency reporter 

  The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Turkish authorities to investigate airstrikes that killed ANHA reporter Essam Abdullah and other civilians in Derik.
• Kadri Esen: We will continue publishing in Kurdish 

  Xwebûn newspaper’s publisher, Kadri Esen, says that there is no legal justification for the government crackdown on Kurdish journalists and journalism. He insists that they will continue Kurdish publications.