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.

Journalist Erdem Avşar given jail term on charge of "defamation"

Avşar was on trial for reporting on Sedat Peker’s claims for Yeniçağ newspaper’s website

Journalist Dilan Esen ordered to pay administrative fine for "insulting a public official"

Esen was on trial for reporting on claims by İYİ Party MP Ümit Özlale concerning Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy

Journalist Uğur Koç sentenced to imprisonment for "insulting the president"

Koç was on trial for a photograph of the perpetrator in the news item titled “Man who caused death of dog through sexual abuse arrested” containing a photograph of President Erdoğan in the background

Journalist Gökay Başcan acquitted of the same charge for the second time

The court had acquitted Başcan in the trial held by simple trial procedure on 3 May 2023, but Erdoğan’s lawyers had objected to the verdict

Journalists Pınar Gayıp and Mehmet Acettin given jail term

Court suspends the sentence of 6 months and 7 days in prison for Gayıp but rules for no grounds for suspending the sentence for Acettin

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 441

ECtHR rules for rights violations in Ayşenur Parıldak case; police violence against journalists during Newroz celebrations; BTK loses “freedom of information application” case brought by Yaman Akdeniz

Judge asks journalist Zeynep Durgut: "Have you ever been subjected to male violence?"

MA reporter Durgut, who was violently detained while covering a press statement on violence against women, and 17 other women appear before the court on the charge of “violating the Law on Meetings"

Police officer to detained journalist: "Be glad we do not make soap out of you"

Journalists covering the Newroz event at Yenikapı Square in İstanbul on 17 March 2024 were battered by the police

Journalist Ayça Söylemez acquitted

Söylemez’s lawyer says that Akın Gürlek, who was listed as a victim in the indictment, had not filed a complaint or petition of grievance against his client

European Court: Ayşenur Parıldak’s imprisonment violated right to liberty, freedom of expression

The Strasbourg court orders Turkey to pay Parıldak a sum of 22,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages and costs and expenses

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