FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Kurdish press in Rojava 

  The 1930s and 1940s were recorded as important years for the Kurdish press after the borders were drawn. 
• Journalist Nedim Türfent on hunger strike 

  Imprisoned journalist Nedim Türfent joined the prison resistance against isolation on 1 March. In a letter he writes that he is in high morale, but worried about the prisoners on hunger strike or four months.
• HDP celebrates 121st anniversary of the Kurdish press 

  121 years have passed since Mîqdad Mîdhed Bedirxan started the publication of Kurdistan Newspaper, the first Kurdish newspaper in Cairo on 22 April 1898.
• RSF: Turkey the most prolific jailer of professional journalists 

  Reporters Without Borders published its annual report. Turkey fell to the 157th place.
• Turkey banned Nuce Ciwan News Agency for 27th time  

  Nuce Ciwan News Agency has been banned for the 27th time in Turkey as part of the censorship attacks by the Turkish state. 
• Ozgur Gundem publisher Sancili arrested again 

  Publiser Kemal Sancili, on trial in the case against the newspaper Ozgur Gundem, was first released and then arrested again and sent back to prison.
• Kurdish journalist detained in Van once again 

  The Turkish regime’s repression against Kurdish media workers continues.
• Journalists receive prison sentences in Özgür Gündem case 

  The court issued prison sentences to journalists who showed solidarity with the Özgür Gündem newspaper. The sentences issued to Huseyin Aykol and Dilsah Kocakaya were not postponed.
• Nûçe Ciwan Agency closed for the 26th time 

  Court in Ankara ordered closure of Youth News Agency.
• Morning Star editor tells of his Turkish detention ordeal 

  Steve Sweeney, the editor of the English newspaper The Morning Star, has written an article about his Turkish detention ordeal.
• Three journalists taken into custody in Mardin 

  Repression against the Kurdish media continues in Turkey.
• Nûçe Ciwan Agency banned for the 24th time in Turkey 

  The Nûçe Ciwan Agency has been censored by the Turkish state for the 24th time.
• Another journalist taken into custody 

  Mesopotamia Agency correspondent Semra Turan has been taken into custody.
• 163 journalists in prison in February 

  "We see that the government’s use of systematic pressures continues to increase. Every day journalists are being tried and many of them are sentenced."
• Prison sentence sought for solidarity with Özgür Gündem 

  Hearing of the Editors-in-Chief on Watch campaign, created with the purpose of solidarity with the Özgür Gündem, was postponed to April.
• Journalist Zehra Doğan released from prison 

  Kurdish journalist Zehra Doğan who was jailed because of her news articles, paintings and social media posts, has been released from prison.
• Journalist Okatan taken into custody 

  The Turkish regime’s repression against journalists continues.
• Kurdish journalist sentenced to three years imprisonment 

  Journalist Özgür Paksoy has been sentenced to more than three years for "terrorist propaganda".
• 169 journalists in Turkish prisons in the month of January 

  “Free press is essential for the continuation of democratic functioning and that all journalists who are detained should be released.”
• Jinnews reporter taken into custody 

  Turkish regime’s repression against Kurdish media workers continues.
• Pressures on journalists by the KRG have increased 

  Many KNN, Rojnews and NRT TV employees have been detained in the last month. The latest act was the closure of NRT Duhok Office by the security forces that also detained four employees.
• Journalist Idris Sayilgan sentenced to 8 years in prison 

  Journalist Idris Sayilgan was sentenced to 8 years and 3 months in prison.
• Hrant Dink commemorated on the 12th anniversary of his murder 

  Agos Newspaper Editor, Hrant Dink, was commemorated on the 12th anniversary of his murder. 
• Journalist Seda Taşkın released from prison 

  A Turkish court has overturned the arrest warrant for journalist Seda Taşkın.
• Turkey deports Dutch journalist  

  The Turkish regime’s repressive measures against journalists and freedom of the press continue.