FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Journalists demand freedom for their colleagues in prison 

  Haberin Var Mı (Have you heard?), the initiative demanding freedom for journalists in prison, protested against the measures contained in the third legal package to be discussed on Tuesday.
• Kurdish journalist summoned to testify over Corona coverage 

  Kurdish journalist Oktay Candemir has been summoned for criminal interrogation by the police in Van. As part of an investigation, he is to testify on his coronavirus articles in the social media.
• AI calls on Turkey to release journalists from prison 

  Amnesty International called on Turkish authorities to release the journalists from pre-trial detention pending the review of the investigations.
• Kurdish journalists demand release of their colleagues 

  Kurdish journalists pointed out the danger of the coronavirus epidemic and demanded the immediate release of journalists and all political prisoners.
• Two MA journalists released from prison 

  An Istanbul court has ordered the release of journalists Sadık Topaloğlu and Sadiye Eser during the first hearing held on Thursday. Both have been released from prison in the evening.
• London Court refuses to release Wikileaks founder Assange 

  Assange is waiting for a trial that could see him extradited to the United States. 
• Yeni Yaşam suspends printed edition due to coronavirus emergency 

  Yeni Yaşam newspaper announced that it will stop its printed edition due to the coronavirus epidemic. The paper will continue publication online. "The children of Ape Musa never say goodbye; we just say hello," said the paper.
• Two journalists detained over report on coronavirus in Antalya 

  Two journalists were detained and their report on a coronavirus case in Antalya was removed.
• Turkish government closes down Raperina Gel site for 16th time 

  Raperina Gel site was censored for 16 times by the Turkish state.
• Message from jailed journalist Mehmet Ferhat Çelik 

  Jailed editor-in-chief of Yeni Yaşam, Mehmet Ferhat Çelik, said that his detention has political motives. "This government will go," he said in a message from prison.
• Protest in Istanbul for journalists in prison 

  Turkey Journalists' Union (TGS), protested in front of Çağlayan Courthouse against the continous arrest of journalist.
• Yeni Yaşam journalists remanded in custody 

  The Turkish regime’s attacks against the free press continue unabated.
• Arrest warrant for Yeni Yaşam journalists 

  Mehmet Ferhat Çelik and Aydın Keser, editor-in-chief of Yeni Yaşam newspaper and editor Semiha Alankuş, were called for testimony and issued with an arrest warrant.
• Repression against journalists continued in February: report 

  In February, twelve journalists have been arrested in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan because of their work and one journalist has been imprisoned, reports the journalist association DFG in its monthly report.
• Journalist Ruken Demir released from prison 

  After more than three months in custody, the arrest warrant for Ruken Demir has been revoked. The trial against the MA correspondent on terror charges will continue at the end of April.
• Journalist Idris Sayılğan released 

  Mezopotamya Agency journalist Idris Sayılğan, who was arrested in Edirne, has been released on appeal.
• Nine journalists covering refugees crisis released 

  A total of 9 journalists were released, including photo journalists Sedat Suna and Tolga Sezgin, after having been detained covering the refugees crisis in Edirne. Mezopotamia Agency journalist Naci Kaya would remain in custody for two more days.
• RSF condemns conviction of Danish reporter in Turkey 

  Turkey is ranked 157th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
• Witch hunt against journalists at Turkey-Greece border 

  Nine journalists, who were following the events at the Turkey-Greece border in Edirne, have been arrested by the Turkish military police.
• MA correspondent Idris Sayilgan jailed in Edirne 

  Journalist Idris Sayilgan has been arrested in Edirne. He and other colleagues had been detained on Saturday while following events on the Turkish-Greek border.
• Journalist Aziz Oruç sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison 

  Journalist Aziz Oruç was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison.
• Journalists arrested in Edirne remain in custody 

  Kurdish journalists Idris Sayilgan and Naci Kaya, who were arrested in Edirne on the Turkish-Greek border, remain in police custody and the detention period has been extended.
• Sputnik Turkey: Istanbul office searched, journalists released 

  Released Sputnik Turkey journalists called absurd the charges brought against them after the detention, in particular, those related to an article they even had not written.
• Sputnik Turkey Editor-in-Chief detained in Istanbul 

  Sputnik has appealed to the United Nations, OSCE and UNESCO in connection with the attack which was followed by detentions.
• Contact lost with 3 Sputnik Turkey employees attacked in Ankara 

  The aftermath of three Sputnik employees is unknown after last night’s attack that targeted them in Turkish capital Ankara.