FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Latest News

• Two journalists for DİHA taken into custody 

  Chairman and Kurdish service editor of the Dicle News Agency (DİHA) which was shut down by the government have been taken into custody in Amed.
• Arrest warrant for NRT Director after the detention of a reporter 

  An arrest warrant has been issued for the director of NRT after the detention of a reporter for the channel two days ago.
• French press unions: Eutelsat action supports Erdoğan's policies 

  French press unions called on the satellite company Eutelsat to go back on their decision to stop broadcast for Kurdish TV networks.
• French photographer in custody for 2 weeks starts hunger strike 

  French photographer Mathias Depardon who is held in custody in Turkey since May 8 started hunger strike.
• “Kurdish televisions” decision in EFJ General Assembly 

  European Federations of Journalists (EFJ) unanimously decided to protest the shutting down of Kurdish television networks in their annual General Assembly meeting.
• Call for the release of French photographer arrested in Turkey 

  22 international organizations and media organs called for the release of French photographer Mathias Depardon, who was arrested in Turkey.
• TGC: Number of jailed journalists rose to 159 by the end of April 

  Journalists Society of Turkey (Türkiye Gazeteciler Cemiyeti - TGC) stated that the number of imprisoned journalists has risen to 159 by the end of April in a report titled “Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression”.
• Eutelsat action against Kurdish press criticized in the EP 

  A press conference was held in the European Parliament on Eutelsat’s decision to suspend the broadcast of three Kurdish TV channels.
• Kurdish TV workers holding meetings in the EP 

  The campaign started after Eutelsat attempted to shut down Ronahî TV, Stêrk TV and News Channel was taken to the European Parliament by the workers of all three networks.
• Journalist fined for exposing Minister's corruption in Van 

  Journalist İdris Yılmaz was fined for exposing the corruption that had taken place in Van’s Erciş district
• Number of jailed journalists in Turkey rises to 171 

  Free Journalists Initiative announced that the number of journalists jailed in Turkey rose to 171 with the arrest of Cumhuriyet newspaper’s Chief Editor Oğuz Güven.
• Journalist-writer Murat Çelikkan receives 18 months jail sentence 

  Journalist-author Murat Çelikkan, who joined the Editor-in-Chief on Watch campaign in solidarity with the Özgür Gündem newspaper shut down by the AKP government, has been given a jail sentence of 18 months.
• Journalist seeks asylum abroad due to KDP's threats 

  Journalist Cihan Özgür, who the Turkish state wants KDP to repatriate to Turkey, was forced to leave Kurdistan due to the threat of repatriation.
• Access to Kurdish daily Rojeva Medya website banned 

  Access to the website of Kurdish daily Rojeva Medya has been banned.
• Attempts against Kurdish televisions face international protests 

  Protests are increasing in Europe against the AKP and EutelSat that attempt to shut down the Kurdish television networks.
• Kurdish TV representatives meet with Belgian Journalists Union 

  Representatives of Kurdish TV networks Stêrk TV, Ronahî TV and News Channel, which French satellite company Eutelsat seeks to shut down on Turkey's demand, met with the director of Belgian Journalists Union.
• KurdSat TV journalist murdered in Hewlêr 

  KurdSat TV presenter Soran Saqizî has been murdered in Hewlêr. Hewlêr police claimed Saqizî’s death is a suicide while KurdSat said “There is a dark smoke screen over this.”
• PYD's Moslem calls for solidarity with Kurdish TV networks 

  Yeni Özgür Politika newspaper celebrated the 11th year anniversary of its foundation and vowed to enhance struggle and solidarity against the Turkish state’s pressures on the free press.
• “KDP detained journalist Ibrahim Abbas because of his ideas" 

  The wife and sister of journalist Ibrahim Abbas who was taken into custody by KDP asayish in a house raid the day before stated that Abbas was detained only because of his ideas.
• News Channel calls for action against attacks on Kurdish press 

  ​​​​​​​News Channel, one of the Kurdish televisions Eutelsat seeks to suspend the broadcast of on Turkey's demand, stressed that a stronger legal conviction and stronger political reaction is needed to deter those that jeopardise the freedom of press.
• KDP asayish detain a journalist in a house raid 

  Journalist İbrahim Abbas who criticised the Barzani family in a post on social media was taken into custody in a house raid.
• Belgium Flemish MPs discuss Eutelsat action against Kurdish press 

  A session was held in the Flemish Parliament of Belgium on Eutelsat’s efforts on AKP’s demand to shut down Kurdish televisions. The message from the session was that the pressure in question is unacceptable.
• Journalist Demiralp: Eutelsat officials could be put on trial 

  Journalist Maxime Demiralp said: “Eutelsat could be put on trial for the practices the Kurdish media are subjected to.”
• Kurdish televisions: We will protect our networks 

  Authorities at Kurdish television networks that could be shut down at Turkey's request said: “They want to shut us down because we report on the oppression and massacres geared towards the Kurdish people."
• RTÜK declares itself the inspector of Kurdish TV networks 

  Targeting Kurdish television networks in tandem with Eutelsat, RTÜK has issued a scandalous decree.