FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Two journalists for Özgür Gündem held in isolation in Silivri Prison 

  Özgür Gündem Newspaper Chief Editor Zana Bilir Kaya and Editor İnan Kızılkaya are held under severe conditions in Silivri Prison. Concerned over their lives, Kaya and Kızılkaya sleep in turns and keep night watches.
• DİHA reporter Sebahattin Koyuncu arrested 

  DİHA reporter Sebahattin Koyuncu was taken to court in Şırnak’s Cizre district and convicted of "membership in an organization."
• Journalists showing support to Özgür Gündem summoned to testify 

  9 journalists have been summoned to testify with allegations of “terrorist propaganda” because they supported the “Editor in Chief Watch” campaign launched by Özgür Gündem newspaper.
• Attacks on Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat continue 

  Police raided the houses of 24 Azadiya Welat journalists who had recently been detained during a raid on the central office of the Kurdish newspaper three days ago.
• Özgür Gün TV taken off air amid increasing pressure against media 

  Transmission of Amed-based Özgür Gün TV has been suspended by Turkish satellite provider TÜRKSAT at 24:00 last night. The suspension came without any notification to the channel's side.
• 27 detained during raid on office of Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat 

  27 people were taken into custody during yesterday's raid on the central office of the Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat in Amed province.
• Police raid the central office of Azadiya Welat newspaper 

  Police raided the central office of Azadiya Welat newspaper, the only daily paper in Turkey published in Kurdish, in Amed.
• Special operations police raid DIHA office in Hakkari 

  Masked policemen from special operations forces raided the Dicle News Agency (DIHA) office in Hakkari province.
• Aslı Erdoğan held in solitary confinement 

  Özgür Gündem Advisory Board member and novelist Aslı Erdoğan’s request for transfer to the political prisoners’ ward was refused and she continues to be held in solitary confinement.
• Özgür Gündem Chief Editor and Editor in Chief arrested 

  Özgür Gündem newspaper’s Chief Editor Bilir Kaya and Editor in Chief İnan Kızılkaya have been arrested.
• Özgür Gündem columnist Aslı Erdoğan jailed 

  Özgür Gündem Publication Advisory Board member and columnist Aslı Erdoğan who was detained in a house raid after the newspaper was closed has been jailed.
• Özgür Gündem staff met in front of their office for today’s news meeting 

  Özgür Gündem that had been arrested and recently released met in front of their office for today’s news meeting.
• Özgür Gündem’s headline today: RESISTANCE CONTINUES 

  Özgür Gündem newspaper, recently shut down by the AKP government, is in newsstands today with the headline RESISTANCE CONTINUES.
• 22 journalists for Özgür Gündem released 

  22 journalists who were detained as a result of the raid on Özgür Gündem office two days ago, have been released.
• Özgür Gündem journalists in custody call for solidarity 

  22 of the journalists detained in the Özgür Gündem raid will be referred to the Istanbul Courthouse for their statements in the prosecutor’s office. The workershave called on everybody to the Courthouse to support their newspaper.
• Newsroom meeting in front of the sealed Özgür Gündem office 

  In the “Free Press Vigil” launched in front of the Özgür Gündem newspaper office, the newspaper’s workers and journalists in solidarity held the newsroom meeting in front of the sealed building of the newspaper.
• Four newspapers in Turkey call for solidarity with Özgür Gündem 

  Reaction against the wave of attack on Özgür Gündem continues. Cumhuriyet, Evrensel, BirGün and Yurt newspapers have protested the court order and called for solidarity.
• Lawyer Keskin: Like in the past, Özgür Gündem won’t be silent today 

  Former Editor in Chief for Özgür Gündem Eren Keskin said Özgür Gündem was the newspaper of Apê Musa, Ferhat Tepe, Hüseyin Deniz and that “Özgür Gündem has made them a promise. Like in the past, Özgür Gündem won’t be silent today.”
• Özgür Gündem columnist Aslı Erdoğan detained 

  Özgür Gündem editorial board member and columnist Aslı Erdoğan was detained after the newspaper was closed with a court order yesterday.
• Özgür Gündem printed with headline “WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN” 

  Pro-Kurdish daily Özgür Gündem was closed yesterday by the AKP government, but is printed today with the headline “WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN”.
• Detention of Özgür Gündem journalists prolonged 

  Detention of 24 journalist taken into custody in the Özgür Gündem raid has been prolonged until Friday.
• Özgür Gündem newspaper building sealed 

  Özgür Gündem has been closed and newspaper’s workers were detained. The building has been sealed by the Beyoğlu Municipality units.
• Wave of attack on Özgür Gündem widens 

  The wave of attack against pro-Kurdish daily Özgür Gündem widens in the wake of the court order for its closure announced earlier today.
• At least 23 detained during raid on Özgür Gündem 

  At least 23 people have been reportedly detained during the police raid on the office of pro-Kurdish daily Özgür Gündem after court order for its closure.
• ÖGC: Free press will take no steps back 

  Free Journalists Association (ÖGC) condemned the closure of Özgür Gündem daily, raid on Istanbul office and the detention of journalists.