FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Editor of Bianet Kurdish service taken into custody 

  Aren Yıldırım was detained and taken to Istanbul Police Headquarters.
• Journalist Fırat Bulut released 

  Journalist Fırat Bulut was detained at Ankara Airport on Friday after returning from the earthquake region. He was released on Saturday.
• Journalist Fırat Bulut taken into custody upon his return from the earthquake zone 

  Journalist Fırat Bulut was taken into custody upon his return to Ankara from the earthquake zone.
• Journalists in Amed demand the release of 16 colleagues detained without charge for nine months 

  Journalists' associations in Amed demanded the immediate release of 16 colleagues who have been in pre-trial detention without charge for nine months.
• CoE report highlights Turkey’s measures against independent media outlets 

  Regarding Turkey, the CoE report highlights the media authorities' punitive measures against independent media outlets, the "disinformation law" adopted in October, and court cases against and imprisonment of journalists.
• Bitlis Journalists Association President sentenced to 10 months in prison 

  Bitlis Journalists Association President Sinan Aygül was sentenced to 10 months in prison for a report he wrote about the sexual harassment of a girl in Tatvan.
• 'Censorship Law': 2 journalists arrested in Osmaniye  

  In Osmaniye, 2 journalists were arrested on charges of "publicly spreading misleading information" on the grounds of their social media posts.
• 25 journalists killed, 14 attacked, 4 detained in earthquake 

  An inconceivable new high point in the gagging of critical media is taking place in Turkey these days, according to Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association report on the violation of the rights of media workers after the earthquake on 6 February.
• CPJ: Stop accusing journalists of 'terrorism' 

  Turkish authorities must stop charging members of the press with terrorism and release all jailed journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.
• Radio and Television Supreme Council fines 3 TV channels over eartquake broadcast 

  The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has fined three TV outlets because of their broadcasts about the two earthquakes that occurred on 6 February.
• Documentary maker Sibel Tekin appears before a judge today 

  Documentary maker Sibel Tekin will appear before a judge today.
• Free Press Association holds meeting with journalists in Qamishlo  

  The Free Press Association held a meeting with journalists in Qamishlo to discuss the state and development of the press in Northern and Eastern Syria.
• UK-based Iranian television channel closes offices in London due to threats 

  A UK-based Iranian broadcaster, International TV, has closed its offices in London after mounting threats and safety concerns against its journalists from Tehran.
• Journalist Mir Ali Koçer summoned to testify for social posts on earthquake 

  Journalist Mir Ali Koçer was summoned to testify on the grounds of his social media posts about the earthquakes in Maraş.
• Journalist Hayri Demir released under judicial control  

  Journalist Hayri Demir, who went to the courthouse to testify within the scope of the investigation opened against him, was released.
• Eleven journalists accused of PKK membership, facing up to 15 years in prison 

  Eleven Kurdish media workers have been accused of being members of the PKK/KCK. The employees of the MA and JinNews news agencies face up to 15 years imprisonment for their journalistic work.
• Journalists detained while covering earthquake have press cards confiscated 

  Journalists Altıntaş and Çağlak were taken into custody on Wednesday while covering the consequences of the earthquake in Birecik, in Urfa. They were released after giving their statement and had their press cards confiscated.
• RTÜK and Police busy to hunt journalists 

  While thousands of people were waiting to be rescued under the rubble, RTÜK and the police went on the hunt for journalists and dissidents in Turkey.
• JINNEWS journalist Yıldız and HDP executive Tufan detained in Izmir 

  JINNEWS reporter Nazlıcan Yıldız and HDP executive Murat Tufan were detained during a political police operation in Izmir.
• IPI monitoring: At least 227 journalists faced trial in Turkey in 2022 

  The judicial harassment of journalists in Turkey continued in 2022. Over the course of the year, 227 journalists faced trial and at least 53 of them were sentenced to prison or fined, according to International Press Institute (IPI) data.
• Journalist Rojin Altay released  

  Rojin Altay, a journalist working for Yeni Yaşam newspaper, has been released from detention after giving a statement to the prosecutor's office. She spent 4 days in custody.
• Yeni Yaşam journalist to be taken to courthouse today  

  Yeni Yaşam Newspaper journalist Rojin Altay will be taken to the courthouse today to give a statement to the prosecutor.
• Prosecutor orders new 24 hours extension of custody time for journalist Altay 

  The custody time of Yeni Yaşam Newspaper employee Rojin Altay has been extended for one more day.
• Arrest warrant for filmmaker Sibel Tekin lifted 

  The arrest warrant for Sibel Tekin has been lifted. The filmmaker was arrested in 2022 because she filmed a police van while shooting a documentary about climate change in summer and winter.
• Journalist who interviewed Jina Amini's father sentenced to two years in prison 

  Iranian journalist Nazila Maroofian has been sentenced to two years in prison for "anti-state propaganda". She had published an interview with Jina Mahsa Amini's father, who rejected the official version of his daughter's death.