FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Journalist Mehmet Şahin sentenced to heavy prison term 

  Journalist Mehmet Şahin was sentenced to six years and three months in prison for "membership in a terrorist organisation".
• Another journalist sentenced to prison in Turkey 

  Journalist Selda Munduz has been sentenced to one year and six months in prison for "propaganda for a terrorist organisation".
• Journalist Yalçın released under judicial control 

  Journalist Nurcan Yalçın, who was arrested in Amed last week, has been released under judicial control. The case against the journalist is still pending and concerns interviews that she did in 2015 in the run-up to the military siege in Sur.
• Journalist Nurcan Yalçın to appear at prosecutor's office today 

  The deposition procedure of detained journalist Nurcan Yalçın at the police station was completed on Sunday. It was learned that Yalçın was questioned about interviews and news she wrote in 2015.
• Coalition for Women in Journalism concerned for Nurcan Yalçin  

  The Coalition For Women In Journalism said it is concerned over the arrest of journalist Nurcan Yalçın without cause.
• Police take journalist Nurcan Yalçın into custody 

  Turkish police detained journalist Nurcan Yalçın in a house raid in Amed.
• Amed Bar Association files complaint over presidential directive on media 

  A presidential directive further tightening the existing censorship of the press and media is causing criticism. The Amed Bar Association expressed constitutional concerns and lodged a complaint with the State Council.
• Erdoğan threatens to take action against 'harmful' media content 

  The Turkish President said he will take the "necessary measures" against "harmful content" in the media to protect society. As soon as the new directive was published, the websites of two Kurdish newspapers were blocked.
• Access to website of Kurdish-language newspaper Xwebûn forbidden 

  Access to the website of the Kurdish-language newspaper Xwebûn has been forbidden.
• New lawsuit against journalist Abdurrahman Gök  

  The 4th hearing of journalist Abdurrahman Gök, who took the pictures of the murder of Kemal Kurkut, was held on Thursday. A new lawsuit was filed against Gök.
• Remembering journalist Hrant Dink, murdered in Istanbul 15 years ago 

  Today Agos editor Hrant Dink is being commemorated in many cities on the 15th anniversary of his murder.
• ‘We are still waiting for justice to be served for Hrant Dink’ 

  Tomorrow, January 19, marks the 15th year since journalist Hrant Dink was murdered. The Journalists’ Association of Turkey (TGC) and the Press Council have commemorated the late journalist.
• Working Journalists' Day in Turkey 

  Journalists, rights organizations and political parties in Turkey mark 'Working Journalists' Day' and vow to expand the organized struggle.
• HDP pays tribute to media workers on Working Journalists Day 

  HDP Temel, drew attention to the pressure on journalists in his statement to mark Working Journalists Day and said that journalists who pursue the truth by overcoming the siege of the government, are the hope of freedom and democracy in Turkey.
• Coalition for Women in Journalism condemns jail sentence against journalist Nazan Sala 

  The Coalition for Women in Journalism has condemned the jail sentence against the journalist Nazan Sala for working for the broadcaster Roj TV, which was closed ten years ago, and has called on the Turkish judiciary to revise the decision.
• HDP pays tribute to Metin Göktepe 

  Commemorating journalist Metin Göktepe on the anniversary of his murder, the HDP saluted "all free press workers who insist on journalism and the truth."
• Kurdish journalist sentenced to life imprisonment in Turkey 

  Journalist Rojhat Doğru has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Amed for separatism and attempted murder. The background is his film reports on the Kobanê protests and from Qandil.
• Journalists acquitted in "Helicopter Torture" trial 

  Journalists Adnan Bilen, Zeynep Durgut, Cemil Uğur, Nazan Sala and Şehriban Abi, who were accused of "anti-state reporting" in the case of the so-called “helicopter torture” in Van, have been acquitted.
• New hearing in Van of 'Helicopter torture' trial against 5 journalists  

  The hearing of 5 journalists on trial in the so called ‘helicopter torture’ case was held. Nazan Sala was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison.
• Journalist Ferhat Çelik detained again 

  MA editor Ferhat Çelik was interrogated by the prosecution and released after his detention in Istanbul on Tuesday. Immediately after his release, he was detained again for reasons unknown so far.
• Police detain Mezopotamya Agency editor-in-chief Ferhat Çelik 

  Mezopotamya Agency editor-in-chief, Ferhat Çelik, was detained by the Turkish police, who came to his house, on the grounds of an investigation launched against him.
• DFG 2021 Report: 62 journalists behind bars in Turkey 

  A new report released by Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) reveals that out of the 55 journalists attacked in 2021, 2 lost their lives. Dozens of lawsuits were filed against journalists and 62 remained behind bars last year.
• 67 journalists appeared in court in December  

  According to the Journalists' Association's Report on the Cost of News, 67 journalists and media workers appeared before the judge, with a total request of 412 to 1,334 years in prison.
• KDP forces raid journalist ceremony in Duhok 

  According to reports, KDP forces attacked the Gorran Movement office in Duhok, Southern Kurdistan, during a journalist award event.
• Eighteen journalists acquitted in 'Özgür Gündem newspaper' case 

  Journalists were charged with "preventing public officials from performing their duties" int he case filed after a 2016 raid on the now-shuttered newspaper.