FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• DFG: There are 79 journalists in prison 

  DFG has published its May report. As of 1 June, 79 journalists are imprisoned.
• Journalist Acar: We will continue to write the truth 

  Emrullah Acar is one of dozens of journalists arrested in Turkey in recent months. If no one speaks out against the attacks on press freedom, there will soon be no media left to report the truth, he says.
• International Federation of Journalists demands release of 12 women journalists in jail in Iran 

  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demanded the release of 12 women journalists imprisoned in Iran.
• Governor in Van rejects investigation into police officer who threatened journalists with death  

  The Van Governor's Office did not allow an investigation to be launched against a police officer who threatened journalists with death.
• Reporters Without Borders denounces Turkish media’s biased coverage of elections 

  Reporters Without Borders denounces the Turkish media’s biased coverage of the parliamentary and first-round presidential elections held on 14 May and the presidential run-off.
• Journalist who exposed rape to stand trial while alleged rapists walk free 

  Six people accused of having sexually assaulted a young girl in Van were released, while a lawsuit was filed against journalist Oktay Candemir, who exposed the incident, on the charge of "publicly spreading false information".
• Journalist Çelik released  

  MA journalist Ferhat Çelik was released with a prohibition on traveling abroad.
• Journalist Ferhat Çelik detained in Amed 

  Kurdish journalist Ferhat Çelik has been detained in Amed. The concessionaire of the Mezopotamya news agency is permanently in the focus of state repression.
• Journalists on trial: We will stand up for truth and our dignity 

  The court ruled to release all imprisoned journalists except for Hamdullah Bayram.
• First hearing of case against journalists starts in Ankara 

  The first hearing of the case brought against Diren Yurtsever, the Editor-in-Chief of the Mezopotamya Agency and 11 journalists, started at the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court.
• First hearing of 11 journalists arrested 7 months ago opens today in Ankara 

  The first hearing of the trial of 11 journalists arrested 7 months ago opens today in Ankara.
• First hearing of Kurdish journalists arrested in October 2022 to be held on Tuesday 

  The first hearing of Kurdish journalists arrested in October 2022 will be held at the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court on Tuesday.
• DFG co-chair Altan: This unlawful period will come to an end after the 14 May elections 

  DFG co-chair Serdar Altan, who was imprisoned last year, stated that journalists were held in prison arbitrarily and unlawfully, and expressed his hope that this unlawful period will come to an end after the 14 May elections.
• Imprisoned journalists urge people to protect their right to receive news 

  DFG co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu, who was arrested on World Press Freedom Day, stated that she was accused of her 23 years of news coverage and called on all NGOs and society to stand up for the right to be informed.
• DFG releases report on rights violations against journalists in April 

  The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association announced that 27 journalists were detained and 5 were imprisoned in Turkey in April.
• Metina: Journalists will continue to resist 

  The spokesperson for the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Platform (MKGP), Roza Metina, criticized the detention of journalists and said that the regime in Turkey wants to control society and prevent the truth from coming to light.
• AFP Turkey office goes on strike on World Press Freedom Day  

  On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, press workers of the Agence France-Presse (AFP) Istanbul Bureau have commenced a strike under the leadership of the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) to protest the low wages policy.
• RSF: The Erdoğan “hyper-presidency” has stepped up its attacks on journalists 

  The 21st edition of the World Press Freedom Index, compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), sheds light on major and often radical changes linked to political, social and technological upheavals.
• Journalists Sedat Yılmaz and Dicle Müftüoğlu remanded in custody 

  Journalists Sedat Yılmaz and Dicle Müftüoğlu were remanded in custody. Yılmaz said: "In ten ıays this unlawful order will be destroyed."
• Journalists Müftüoğlu and Yılmaz to appear in court today 

  17 people taken into custody on Saturday as part of the Ankara-based operation, including journalists Dicle Müftüoğlu and Sedat Yılmaz, will be transferred to the court today.
• Jailed journalists mark May Day: “Fascism will be defeated, long live Free Press!” 

  Journalists sent messages from Sincan Prison to mark May Day and said that "Fascism will be defeated, long live the Free Press."
• RSF Turkey demands prosecution of police officers who tortured journalists 

  RSF Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu demanded the prosecution of the police officers who tortured MA editor Sedat Yılmaz and Evrensel Newspaper journalist Eylem Nazlier.
• Reporters Müftüoğlu and Yılmaz call on colleagues to defend journalism 

  Journalists Dicle Müftüoğlu and Sedat Yılmaz were taken into custody in the Ankara-based police political operation on Friday. They called on colleagues to defend journalism.
• Journalists detained in Amed taken to Ankara 

  Detained in Amed, DFG co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu and MA editor Sedat Yılmaz were taken to Ankara.
• Kurdish PEN Center condemns arrests of journalists and artists in North Kurdistan 

  The Kurdish PEN Center issued a statement to condemn the arrests of journalists and artists in North Kurdistan.