FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• 2019: A bad year for freedom of expression, says Susma 

  186 people were arrested, 24 of whom were then imprisoned pending trial, for posts or comments about the invasion attacks on Rojava.
• Kurdish journalist sued over social media posts 

  Repressive measures against the Kurdish press continues unabated in Turkey, the world’s largest prison for journalists.
• Turkey’s Constitutional Court orders end of Wikipedia blockade 

  Wikipedia has not been accessible in Turkey for more than two and a half years. Now the Turkish constitutional court has ordered the lifting of the ban, stating that the blocking of the online encyclopedia is a violation of the freedom of opinion.
• Swedish Court rejects Turkey's demand for Zarakolu's extradition 

  Swedish Supreme Court (Högsta In domstol), has rejected the extradition request made by Turkey against journalist Ragip Zarakolu.
• The courage of the Kurdish media 

  Kurdish journalists are at the center of repression in Turkey. "If there is still a small oppositional force today, it is thanks to the courage of the Kurdish media," explains journalist Faruk Balıkçı.
• Martyr journalist Rizgar Deniz commemorated in Maxmur Camp 

  Journalists commemorated Rizgar Deniz, a free press employee who fell martyr on 18 December 2017 as a result of the attack by ISIS mercenaries. Rizgar's colleagues said: "We will not leave the camera falling from Rizgar's hands."
• Journalist Aziz Oruç sent to prison 

  Kurdish journalist Aziz Oruç, who had been in custody since 11 December, was sent to prison this morning, after appearing in Court.
• The State targets serious and real journalists 

  Speaking about the arrest of their colleague, Aziz Oruç, journalist organizations stated that the state targeted serious and real journalism.
• Journalist Oruç expected to appear in Court today 

  Journalist Aziz Oruç was finally asked to give a statement, 7 days after being taken into custody.
• Petition for arrested journalist Aziz Oruç 

  Over 200 journalists have launched an online petition for their colleague Aziz Oruç, who has been arrested in Turkey.
• RSF: 49 journalists killed, 389 in jail in 2019 

  A total of 49 journalists were killed this year, 389 are currently in prison and 57 are being held hostage, according to the annual worldwide round-up of deadly violence and abusive treatment against journalists, releasedby Reporters Without Borders.
• Journalist Oruç: I was tortured and left to die 

  Journalist Aziz Oruç was directly targeted by the AKP, he is now in custody and told his lawyer about what he experienced in Armenia and Iran.
• Social networks campaign for journalist Aziz Oruç 

  A campaign (#AzizOruçGazetecidir”)was launched on social networks for journalist Aziz Oruç, who was taken into custody by the Turkish regime.
• HDP's Başaran: Oruç case reveals media are puppets of the AKP 

  HDP Law and Human Rights Commission spokesperson, Ayşe Acar Başaran, reacted to the media targeting journalist Aziz Oruç.
• HDP: Iran abandoned journalist Oruç barefoot in border area 

  Journalist Aziz Oruç has been arrested and tortured in Iran. He was subsequently released in the Turkish border area. The HDP has shared details of the case.
• CPJ: China and Turkey jail highest number of journalists 

  The Committee to Protect Journalists said in a new report that the worst countries in terms of freedom of the press are China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
• Istanbul: Journalists demand the release of their colleagues 

  In Istanbul, journalists have taken to the streets to demand the release of Sadiye Eser, Sadık Topaloğlu and Yusuf Topaloğlu. The three journalists have been arrested on terror charges earlier this week.
• Turkey jails another journalist 

  Journalist Yusuf Topaloğlu, who was detained in Turkey eight days ago, was jailed on charges of "membership to a terrorist organisation".
• Die Welt writes about jailed MA journalist Ruken Demir 

  Die Welt, one of the leading daily newspapers in Germany, published an article about the struggle of Mezopotamya Agency journalist Ruken Demir who was detained and arrested in Izmir.
• MA reporters Eser and Topaloğlu remanded in custody 

  The Turkish regime’s repressive measures against workers of the free press continue increasingly.
• Free Journalists' Initiative: No freedom of the press in Turkey 

  The Free Journalists' Initiative has published a November report on freedom of the press in Turkey. Accordingly, 139 journalists are behind bars in Turkey.
• Turkey: A journalist detained, three others referred to court 

  According to the Free Journalists Initiative (Özgür Gazeteciler İnisiyatifi, ÖGİ), 139 journalists are behind bars in Turkey.
• HDP: Erdoğan won't succeed in silencing free press 

  The HDP issued a statement to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Özgür Ülke Newspaper on 3 December 1994.
• “Arrest of journalists seeks to incapacitate the Kurdish media” 

  The Initiative called for the immediate release of the three recently detained journalists.
• MA journalists Eser and Topaloğlu in police custody  

  It has been confirmed that Mezopotamia Agency (MA) journalists Sadiye Eser and Sadık Topaloğlu have been taken into custody on Friday night. The two journalists went 'missing' for hours last night after leaving the agency office.