FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Repression against journalists continued in February: report 

  In February, twelve journalists have been arrested in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan because of their work and one journalist has been imprisoned, reports the journalist association DFG in its monthly report.
• Journalist Ruken Demir released from prison 

  After more than three months in custody, the arrest warrant for Ruken Demir has been revoked. The trial against the MA correspondent on terror charges will continue at the end of April.
• Journalist Idris Sayılğan released 

  Mezopotamya Agency journalist Idris Sayılğan, who was arrested in Edirne, has been released on appeal.
• Nine journalists covering refugees crisis released 

  A total of 9 journalists were released, including photo journalists Sedat Suna and Tolga Sezgin, after having been detained covering the refugees crisis in Edirne. Mezopotamia Agency journalist Naci Kaya would remain in custody for two more days.
• RSF condemns conviction of Danish reporter in Turkey 

  Turkey is ranked 157th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
• Witch hunt against journalists at Turkey-Greece border 

  Nine journalists, who were following the events at the Turkey-Greece border in Edirne, have been arrested by the Turkish military police.
• MA correspondent Idris Sayilgan jailed in Edirne 

  Journalist Idris Sayilgan has been arrested in Edirne. He and other colleagues had been detained on Saturday while following events on the Turkish-Greek border.
• Journalist Aziz Oruç sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison 

  Journalist Aziz Oruç was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison.
• Journalists arrested in Edirne remain in custody 

  Kurdish journalists Idris Sayilgan and Naci Kaya, who were arrested in Edirne on the Turkish-Greek border, remain in police custody and the detention period has been extended.
• Sputnik Turkey: Istanbul office searched, journalists released 

  Released Sputnik Turkey journalists called absurd the charges brought against them after the detention, in particular, those related to an article they even had not written.
• Sputnik Turkey Editor-in-Chief detained in Istanbul 

  Sputnik has appealed to the United Nations, OSCE and UNESCO in connection with the attack which was followed by detentions.
• Contact lost with 3 Sputnik Turkey employees attacked in Ankara 

  The aftermath of three Sputnik employees is unknown after last night’s attack that targeted them in Turkish capital Ankara.
• Three Sputnik employees attacked and threatened in Ankara 

  Sputnik Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan tweeted about attack on three agency’s staffers day after a protest was held outside Russian General Consulate in Istanbul amid deterioration of situation in Syria’s Idlib.
• Two MA correspondents detained in Edirne 

  Mezopotamya Agency (MA) correspondents İdris Sayılgan and Naci Kaya have been taken into custody in the Edirne province this afternoon.
• Journalist Mehmet Erol acquitted of terror charges 

  A Turkish court in Amed has acquitted Kurdish journalist Mehmet Erol of "terror propaganda" charges. Erol had been accused in connection with articles in the social media.
• RSF: Iran concealing coronavirus figures 

  Iran is ranked 179th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
• Jin News website closed down for 9th time 

  The Turkish state has blocked JIN NEWS web site for the 9th time.
• Murdered journalist Nuh Köklü commemorated in Istanbul 

  Candles were lit in front of a photo of Nuh Köklü surrounded by flowers.
• Three acquitted in the Özgür Gündem trial 

  In the trial against authors and editors of the pro-Kurdish daily newspaper Özgür Gündem, which was closed down by an emergency decree, three defendants were acquitted.
• Mesopotamia Agency Editor taken into custody twice in a day 

  Ferhat Çelik, editor in chief of Mesopotamia Agency, was once again taken into custody.
• DFG: Four journalists sentenced to prison in January  

  The Association of Journalists DFG has published a report on press freedom in Turkey: "In the opinion of the government, no one can be a journalist who does not engage in government propaganda. There can only be one-sided reporting."
• Journalist Melike Aydın released from prison 

  After two and a half months in custody, JinNews correspondent Melike Aydın has been released from prison. The trial against the journalist is still pending.
• Up to 5-year prison terms sought for journalist Oruç 

  The Turkish regime’s attacks against the Kurdish press continue increasingly as Turkey maintains its position as the largest prison for journalists.
• Journalist Canözer faces charges for posts in social media 

  The hearing of the trial against journalist Beritan Canözer held in Diyarbakır.
• Yet another journalist sentenced to prison in Turkey 

  The former editor of the newspaper Yeni Yaşam Gazetesi, Osman Akın, was sentenced to one and a half years in prison for "propaganda for a terrorist organization".