FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Behdinan activists have been on hunger strike for 41 days 

  Five journalists and activists, who were sentenced to six years in prison by a Hewlêr court on 16 February, have been on hunger strike for 41 days. Officials prevent lawyers from meeting the activists.
• Journalists call for support for jailed colleagues before the hearing on April 2 

  Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and Mesopotamia Women Journalists’ Platform (MKGP) called for attendance in the first hearing of a trial against 5 journalists, 4 of whom are jailed, to be held on April 2 in Van.
• IPI to European Union: Prioritize press freedom in Turkey 

  International Press Institute has addressed an open letter to the President of the European Council ahead of EU leaders’ meeting this week and called on the European Council to prioritize press freedom in Turkey.
• 80 journalists and media employees behind bars in Turkey 

  At least 80 journalists and media employees are currently in prison in Turkey, according to the media rights organization MLSA. The IFJ describes the country ruled by Erdoğan as the "largest jailer of journalists in the world".
• Journalist Zekeriya Güzüpek taken into custody 

  The Turkish regime’s repression against the free press continues.
• NuJINHA reporter receives award for her work on women's struggle in Tunisia 

  NuJINHA reporter Zihur Al-Mashreqi was awarded by the Tunisia International Center for Strategic Studies.
• Mezopotamya Agency journalists Topaloğlu and Eser appear in court 

  The hearing of the trial against Mezopotamya Agency reporter Sadık Topaloğlu and journalist Sadiye Eser, accused of being "members of an illegal organization", was held.
• Journalist Evren's hearing adjourned 

  In the hearing of the trial of journalist Kibriye Evren, witness Veysi Sonsuz said that he did not have any testimony to make contrary to his statement in the indictment.
• Chant a slogan for me too, says journalist Pınar Gayıp from house arrest 

  Istanbul journalist Pınar Gayıp is under house arrest and won’t be able to take part in the 8 March celebrations. She appeals to other women: "Take to the streets for your rights and your life!"
• Freedom of press in Turkey: 72 journalists appeared in court in February 

  The Dicle Firat Association of Journalists stressed that journalistic activities would continue with the motto "Free press, free society" against oppression.
• Two hearings of Özgür Gündem newspaper adjourned 

  The hearings in two trials of the opposition Özgür Gündem Newspaper were held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The next hearings in both trials were postponed to 13 July.
• Facebook silenced Syrian Kurdish fighters in 2018 

  ProPublica reported that Turkey demanded the social media giant Facebook to block posts from the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
• New indictment against journalist Sherwan Sherwani jailed in South Kurdistan 

  A new indictment has been filed against journalist Sherwan Sherwani, who has been imprisoned in southern Kurdistan. The Asayish of Hewlêr accuses him of defamation.
• Amnesty International calls for the release of five journalists in Kurdistan Region 

  Reactions are growing to the latest arrest of 5 journalists and activists from Behdinan by the KDP which already holds nearly 50 journalists behind bars in southern Kurdistan, northern Iraq.
• Prosecutor demands up to 20 years imprisonment for Kurdish journalist Gök 

  Another Kurdish journalist, Abdurrahman Gök, is on trial on pretentious terrorist charges. The reporter, who documented the murder of student Kemal Kurkut by a police officer in Amed in 2017, faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Swedish intellectuals call for the release of Ahmet Altan 

  More than 10 journalists and writers' organizations in Sweden made a joint statement for the release of journalist Ahmet Altan.
• Journalists and family pay tribute to Yeni Ülke reporter 

  Cengiz Altun, a journalist with Yeni Ülke newspaper, who was killed by the Turkish state in Batman in 1992, was commemorated at his grave.
• Özgür Gündem trial postponed to 22 June 

  The hearing of the trial against Özgür Gündem newspaper's co-editor-in-chief Hüseyin Aykol, managing editor Reyhan Çapan and various journalists was postponed to 22 June.
• Access to Mezopotamya Agency banned 

  A Turkish court has banned access to Mezopotamya Agency (MA).
• Özgür Gündem journalist murdered 28 years ago commemorated in Urfa 

  Özgür Gündem Newspaper Urfa Representative Kemal Kılıç was murdered by the Turkish state 28 years ago.
• CFWIJ says Turkey is carrying out a policy of intimidation against journalists 

  The Coalition For Women In Journalism called for the immediate release of journalists Şehriban Abi, Nazan Sala and Zeynep Durgut.
• 21-year prison sentences for 4 people in the Özgür Gündem trial 

  Kemal Sancılı was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison, managing editor Inan Kızılkaya and editor-in-chief on duty Eren Keskin to 6 years and 3 months, editor-in-chief Zana Kaya to 1 year and 13 months in the Özgür Gündem trial.
• Court releases MA correspondent Dindar Karataş, the trial continues 

  At the first hearing in the trial against MA correspondent Dindar Karataş, the court ordered the defendant's release from prison. The Kurdish journalist has been in prison for three months.
• DFG report: 88 journalists currently behind bars in Turkey 

  The Dicle Firat Journalists'Association has published its balance sheet on repression and rights violations in the area of press freedom in Turkey for the month of January. According to the report, 88 media professionals are currently in prison.
• South Kurdistan government delays permission for Ronahî TV to open office 

  The South Kurdistan government is attacking the freedom of the press again by preventing the opening of an office for the television station Ronahî TV.