FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Journalist Zeynep Durgut released from custody 

  Kurdish journalist Zeynep Durgut, who was arrested in Cizre on Thursday, has been released on condition of judicial control. A ban on leaving the country was also imposed.
• Court demands imprisonment for MA journalist Zeynep Durgut 

  Mezopotamya Agency journalist Zeynep Durgut appeared in court accused of "acting on behalf of an illegal organization".
• CFWIJ demands immediate release of journalist Zeynep Durgut 

  “Attacks against journalists overshadow press freedom and freedom of expression. Journalism is not a crime and must not be prosecuted as such,” said the CFWIJ on the detention of yet another journalist in Turkey.
• Four journalists detained in Şırnak 

  The Turkish regime’s repression against journalists continues unabated.
• Hearing of journalists in solidarity with Özgür Gündem postponed 

  The hearing of a lawsuit filed against the journalists who participated in the Editor-in-Chief on Duty campaign launched in solidarity with Özgür Gündem newspaper was held on Tuesday. The hearing was postponed to 4 March.
• RSF says 387 journalists are currently in prison worldwide 

  Worldwide, a total of 387 journalists are currently detained in connection with their work, 54 are held hostage and four are missing, says Reporters Without Borders.
• Police in Çoman takes RojNews journalist Hamed into custody 

  RojNews journalist Zusik Hamed has been arrested in Çoman, South Kurdistan. The journalist had been criticising the arrest of youth activists on his social media. He has now been taken to the Soran Police Department.
• #HRD2020: Let Turkey’s Journalists Report Freely 

  IPI calls on Turkey to mark Human Rights Day by letting journalists report freely.
• Turkey has the highest number of journalists in prison 

  The IFJ launches a White Paper on Global Journalism to mark the International Day for Human Rights on 10 December 2020.
• Turkey closes Nûçe Ciwan Agency site once again, new site online 

  The Youth News Agency (Nûçe Ciwan Agency) once again has been targeted by the Turkish state. The answer from the agency was inmediate: Nuceciwan61 has been replaced by nucecivan62.
• Journalist Doğan sentenced to 6 years in prison 

  Journalist Ayşegül Doğan was sentenced to 6 years in prison. Doğan was a program coordinator on İMC TV which was closed down through a governmental decree.
• Government blocks internet access to Jinnews agency 

  Internet access to Jinnews agency blocked once again.
• Rights violations against journalists continued in November 

  DFG announced that 8 journalists were detained in November, 2 journalists were jailed and 5 others were sentenced to prison.
• Özgür Gündem hearing adjourned 

  The hearing of Özgür Gündem’s chief editors and columnists has been adjourned.
• Journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu sentenced to prison in Amed 

  Journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu has been sentenced in Amed to over a year in prison for alleged propaganda for a terrorist organization. She is accused of having shared on social media a photo of the fight for Kobanê in 2014.
• Özgür Ülke newspaper bombed 26 years ago 

  The 26th anniversary of the bombing of the Özgür Ülke newspaper will be protested at an event to be held tomorrow. Journalist Ersin Yıldız, who was murdered in the attack, will be commemorated at his graveyard.
• Karataş: Free press shows the light at the end of the tunnel 

  Journalist Dindar Karataş sent a message from Erzurum prison: "We show the way to the light at the end of the tunnel, against the laws wanting to push us down into darkness."
• Court sentences journalist Öztekin to 18 months in prison 

  Former Azadiya Welat newspaper journalist, Velat Öztekin, was sentenced to 1 year, 6 months and 22 days in prison.
• MA journalist Karataş held in isolation cell 

  Mezopotamya Agency journalist Dindar Karataş has been put in a isolation cell in Erzurum H Type Closed Prison.
• MA journalist Hakan Yalçın taken into custody in Ankara 

  Journalist with Mezopotamya (MA) news agency, Hakan Yalçın, was arrested during a police raid in the Turkish capital Ankara.
• MA reporter Karataş jailed for journalistic activities 

  Dindar Karataş, a journalist with Mezopotamya Agency, was taken into custody following a raid in his house in Van on Tuesday.
• Journalists in Van call for solidarity against repression 

  The journalists in Van, reacting to the attacks against the Mesopotamia Agency office, stated that the AKP-MHP government targets the people who reveal the truth. They called for solidarity.
• Police arrive at Van news agency office with anti-riot vehicle 

  Following the detention of Mezopotamya Agency journalist Dindar Karataş, police searched the Van office of the agency, while an anti-riot TOMA vehicle was stationed outside it, and seized technical equipment.
• Police raid Mezopotamya Agency office in Van 

  After Dindar Karataş, correspondent for Mezopotamya Agency, was detained in the morning, the agency’s Van office was raided by the police.
• Police in Van detain Mezopotamya Agency journalist Karataş 

  Dindar Karataş, a journalist with Mezopotamya Agency, was taken into custody following a raid in his house in Van.