FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• MLSA co-director Ok: Not enough done to counter 'censorship law' 

  MLSA co-director Veysel Ok said that the opposition could not develop enough policies against the 'censorship law', and that it was not enough to bring it to the Constitutional Court.
• 211 writers, artists and intellectuals reject Censorship Law 

  211 writers, artists and intellectuals said: “We reject the Censorship Law that will push the country into a deep darkness. Against the lies of the tyrants, the truth of the people and the world".
• UN urges Turkey to ensure full respect for freedom of expression guaranteed under international law 

  Freedom of expression and access to information are necessary for people’s effective participation in public and political life and essential in any democracy, said the UN, calling on Turkey to ensure full respect for freedom of expression.
• International press organizations call for freedom for Kurdish journalists 

  Nine press freedom and journalism groups to examine the media freedom crisis in the build up to the 2023 elections. IPS
• Journalist Ataman tortured in prison: I can't breathe! 

  Journalist Ziya Ataman, who is jailed in Erzurum’s Dumlu High Security Prison No. 2, said that he was put in a "confined" cell and had "difficulty breathing".
• DFG: 72 media workers behind bars in Turkey 

  The Journalists' Association DFG has published its September report on rights violations against media workers in Turkey. According to the report, at least 72 journalists are currently in prison, with cases against the same number pending.
• RSF condemns the murder of Nagihan Akarsel: A powerful feminist voice has been silenced 

  Kurdish activists, journalist and writer Nagihan Akarsel was assassinated in front of her house in the Sulaymaniyah city of southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) on October 4.
• Journalist Çetin Kurşun sentenced to 13 years in prison in Mardin 

  Kurdish journalist Çetin Kurşun has been sentenced to 13 years and three months in prison for alleged membership of a terrorist organisation in Mardin. The court issued an arrest warrant.
• Mezopotamya Agency reporter subjected to police violence 

  Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Hakan Yalçın was beaten by policemen while he was reporting on a protest.
• Prosecutor's office demands punishment for journalists Oruç and Müftüoğlu 

  The prosecutor's office demanded punishment for journalist Aziz Oruç (who is in prison) and DFG (Dicle and Firat Journalists Association) co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu.
• SNJ sends postcards to 16 Kurdish journalists jailed in Amed 

  The National Union of Journalists in France sent a solidarity card to 16 Kurdish journalists imprisoned in Amed.
• IFJ calls for the release of journalists detained in Iran 

  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges Iranian authorities to immediately release the reporters and restore the free flow of information.
• CPJ says at least 18 journalists arrested in Iran, calls for their immediate release 

  Iranian security forces step up arrests of journalists as anti-state protests spread.
• Journalist arrested in Iran after reporting on Amini's death 

  For being the first to publicise the case of Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini, who was killed by the morality police, authorities in Iran have arrested journalist Nilufar Hamedi. Another reporter and a photographer have also been detained.
• Prison sentence for JinNews reporter for “terror propaganda" 

  Kurdish journalist Rabia Önver has been sentenced to prison in Turkey. A court in Van found the reporter for the all-female news agency JinNews guilty of disseminating "PKK propaganda" on social media.
• Journalist Nurcan Yalçın sentenced to prison for “supporting the PKK” 

  Kurdish journalist Nurcan Yalçın has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison in Amed for “supporting the PKK”. The background to the trial was a report on the siege of the old city district of Sur.
• Turkey on the verge of rewarding those who killed journalist Musa Anter with impunity, says RSF 

  Musa Anter was gunned down in Diyarbakır on 20 September 1992. Now the Turkish judiciary has come to the brink of rewarding those who killed him with impunity.
• Journalists commemorate Musa Anter at the scene of his murder 

  Kurdish writer Musa Anter was commemorated on the street where he was killed 30 years ago.
• Court sentences journalist Hatice Şahin to 6 years and 3 months in prison 

  Journalist Hatice Şahin, who was accused of "membership in a terrorist organization" for following DTK activities, was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison.
• Media Freedom Rapid Response exposes legal persecution of journalists in Turkey 

  The Media Freedom Rapid Response has published its first semi-annual report of the year.
• Protests in three cities for jailed Kurdish journalists 

  Journalists staged protests in the cities of Amed, Van and Mersin for their jailed colleagues, sending cards, letters and books to them.
• Call for support for the book and letter campaign for 16 jailed Kurdish journalists 

  Journalists will send books and letters to 16 Kurdish journalists who have been imprisoned in Diyarbakır for 3 months in a support campaign.
• Protests in solidarity with jailed journalists will be held in 5 cities on Friday  

  MKGP and DFG will hold protests in 5 cities in solidarity with 16 journalists arrested 3 months ago.
• Justice Ministry says number of jailed journalists 'doesn't concern public' 

  The Ministry of Justice refused to disclose information about journalists behind bars in Turkey, Bianet reports.
• Journalist Sinan Aygül sent to prison 

  Journalist Sinan Aygül, who told AKP Bitlis MP Vahit Kiler to stop being corrupt, has been arrested again.