Expression Interrupted

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.

PANEL | Strike at Sputnik Turkey marks 100th day

Striking journalists Mehtap Yenidoğan, Sefa Söyler and Nejdet Eksilmez recount the process that led to the strike, their demands and the latest developments

Court rules "no grounds for sentencing" in Zafer Arapkirli’s retrial

In the retrial of Zafer Arapkirli prosecuted upon Nureddin Yıldız’s complaint, the court has ruled that there were no grounds for sentencing the journalist

Journalist İsmail Arı acquitted

Journalist İsmail Arı has been acquitted in the trial where he was charged over his reporting on former Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank's cousin winning a tender

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Former Zaman newspaper manager Mehmet Kamış imprisoned pending trial; Hacı Boğatekin given jail term; sentencing requested for Ayça Söylemez at the first hearing; Furkan Karabay sued twice for damages

Retrial of journalist Canan Coşkun gets underway

The retrial was ordered by the Constitutional Court, which held that the deferral of the sentence constituted a violation of Coşkun’s freedom of expression

ANALYSIS | Same voice throughout Turkey: Local journalism on its deathbed

Closures and mergers due to financial issues, the loss of editorial independence and judicial pressure have brought local journalism in Turkey to the point of extinction

Prosecutor demands conviction for journalist Ayça Söylemez at first hearing

Submitting their final opinion, the prosecutor asks the court to sentence Söylemez for "marking a public official assigned with the fight against terrorism as a target"

ANALYSIS | Parliament ignores pilot judgment, top court does not abide by its own ruling

Parliament yet to amend Internet Law based on Constitutional Court’s 2021 pilot judgment that found violations of freedom of expression due to access blocking decisions issued by magistrates

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Barış Pehlivan released from prison; Merdan Yanardağ acquitted; Gökhan Yavuzel handed jail term; journalist in Bursa survives armed attack; MHP Deputy Chairperson threatens Alican Uludağ

Merdan Yanardağ acquitted of "insulting the president"

Tele 1 TV Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ was on trial on account of his article series titled “Fascism and Islamist Fascism,” published in BirGün in 2022

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