FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Facebook silenced Syrian Kurdish fighters in 2018 

  ProPublica reported that Turkey demanded the social media giant Facebook to block posts from the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
• New indictment against journalist Sherwan Sherwani jailed in South Kurdistan 

  A new indictment has been filed against journalist Sherwan Sherwani, who has been imprisoned in southern Kurdistan. The Asayish of Hewlêr accuses him of defamation.
• Amnesty International calls for the release of five journalists in Kurdistan Region 

  Reactions are growing to the latest arrest of 5 journalists and activists from Behdinan by the KDP which already holds nearly 50 journalists behind bars in southern Kurdistan, northern Iraq.
• Prosecutor demands up to 20 years imprisonment for Kurdish journalist Gök 

  Another Kurdish journalist, Abdurrahman Gök, is on trial on pretentious terrorist charges. The reporter, who documented the murder of student Kemal Kurkut by a police officer in Amed in 2017, faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Swedish intellectuals call for the release of Ahmet Altan 

  More than 10 journalists and writers' organizations in Sweden made a joint statement for the release of journalist Ahmet Altan.
• Journalists and family pay tribute to Yeni Ülke reporter 

  Cengiz Altun, a journalist with Yeni Ülke newspaper, who was killed by the Turkish state in Batman in 1992, was commemorated at his grave.
• Özgür Gündem trial postponed to 22 June 

  The hearing of the trial against Özgür Gündem newspaper's co-editor-in-chief Hüseyin Aykol, managing editor Reyhan Çapan and various journalists was postponed to 22 June.
• Access to Mezopotamya Agency banned 

  A Turkish court has banned access to Mezopotamya Agency (MA).
• Özgür Gündem journalist murdered 28 years ago commemorated in Urfa 

  Özgür Gündem Newspaper Urfa Representative Kemal Kılıç was murdered by the Turkish state 28 years ago.
• CFWIJ says Turkey is carrying out a policy of intimidation against journalists 

  The Coalition For Women In Journalism called for the immediate release of journalists Şehriban Abi, Nazan Sala and Zeynep Durgut.
• 21-year prison sentences for 4 people in the Özgür Gündem trial 

  Kemal Sancılı was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison, managing editor Inan Kızılkaya and editor-in-chief on duty Eren Keskin to 6 years and 3 months, editor-in-chief Zana Kaya to 1 year and 13 months in the Özgür Gündem trial.
• Court releases MA correspondent Dindar Karataş, the trial continues 

  At the first hearing in the trial against MA correspondent Dindar Karataş, the court ordered the defendant's release from prison. The Kurdish journalist has been in prison for three months.
• DFG report: 88 journalists currently behind bars in Turkey 

  The Dicle Firat Journalists'Association has published its balance sheet on repression and rights violations in the area of press freedom in Turkey for the month of January. According to the report, 88 media professionals are currently in prison.
• South Kurdistan government delays permission for Ronahî TV to open office 

  The South Kurdistan government is attacking the freedom of the press again by preventing the opening of an office for the television station Ronahî TV.
• International organisations call on Turkey to end persecution of journalists 

  17 free speech, human rights and journalists’ organizations  support Reporters Without Borders representative Erol Önderoğlu, whose retrial opens today.
• Court accuses MA journalist Aslan of "spreading provocative reports" 

  The investigation against journalist Mehmet Aslan has been concluded. The journalist is now charged with “membership of a terrorist organization” and “spreading provocative reports”.
• Court sentences MA journalist Sayılğan to 4 years' imprisonment 

  Mezopotamya Agency journalist Idris Sayılğan was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
• MA journalist says he was strip searched while entering prison 

  Mezopotamya Agency journalist Mehmet Aslan, who was arrested for his journalism activities, was strip searched at the entrance of the prison.
• Journalist detained by KDP forces in Duhok 

  The KDP administration’s repression against journalists continues increasingly.
• IFJ and EFJ call for release of journalists  

  The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) called for an immediate release of the four journalists detained by police in eastern Turkey on 6 October.
• Free press workers: We reject attempts to silence us 

  Free press workers once again reiterated that they will not bow to pressure at a press conference held in support of their arrested colleagues.
• "96 percent of the media in Turkey controlled by the government" 

  Turkey celebrates "Working Journalists' Day" on January 10. Numerous organizations and individuals - including President Erdogan - have spoken out on the issue of press freedom on this occasion.
• HDP: Nothing to celebrate for journalists in Turkey on 10 January 

  Today is 'Working Journalist Day' but in Turkey journalists has nothing to celebrate said HDP Press and Propaganda deputy co-chair, Tayip Temel.
• Mezopotamya Agency journalist Aslan sent to prison 

  Repression of journalists continued in Turkey. Mezopotamy Agency correspondent Mehmet Aslan was remanded in custody in Antalya for alleged membership in a terrorist organization.
• HDP commemorates journalist Metin Göktepe 

  The HDP drew attention to the fact that the free press is still the target of the AKP-MHP government today in its commemoration of murdered journalist Metin Göktepe.