Journalists and academics bear the brunt of the massive crackdown on freedom of expression in Turkey. Scores of them are currently subject to criminal investigations or behind bars. This website is dedicated to tracking the legal process against them.
Prosecutor demands sentence for Derya Okatan; new case against Yılmaz Odabaşı begins; court files new criminal complaint against Çetin Kurşun; Elif Çetiner sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison
In the last quarter of 2021, 203 journalists appeared before courts in 98 cases. This means on average, 70 journalists stood trial in more than 30 cases monthly throughout the reporting period
Sedef Kabaş jailed, Can Uğur detained for “insulting president”; Baransu remains behind bars in Taraf trial; Abdurrahman Gök charged with “propaganda” in new indictment; İHD co-chair to stand trial
Recusal motion filed by Mehmet Baransu and his lawyers rejected. Lawyers representing Altan, Çongar and Oğur make final defense statements; court sets 4 March 2022 as the date for the 39th hearing
The court once again ruled for the continuation of Osman Kavala’s pre-trial detention by a majority. Next hearing set for 21 February 2022
Journalist dismissed for reporting on university student’s death by suicide; prosecutors request sentence for writer Yavuz Ekinci, journalist Ruken Demir; access to ETHA website blocked again
The accusation stems from eight Twitter posts Ekinci shared in 2013 and 2014 and a joint statement he had signed against the ISIS attack on the Syrian town of Kobani
Ahmet Turan Alkan, whose conviction on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” was overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeals in March 2021, appeared before court as the 5th defendant
Journalists and representatives from professional organizations recount how police brutality affects journalists in Turkey in our documentary, “Journalism Under Attack”
Violence against journalists is aimed both at preventing incidents from becoming public and silencing the public and all rights defenders who play the vital role of “watchdog,” especially journalists