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.

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 490

Mahmut Altıntaş handed 2 jail terms within 5 days; Nevşin Mengü sentenced to imprisonment; Gökhan Yavuzel acquitted; Levent Gültekin acquitted of “insulting the president”

Journalist Mahmut Altıntaş sentenced to 2 years in prison in 2 cases within 5 days

Criticizing the verdicts, Altıntaş said, “They want to punish journalism with these prison sentences, but they cannot prevent us practicing journalism”

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 489

Five journalists jailed; indictment filed in Halk TV investigation; Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı acquitted of “denigrating the Turkish nation”

Turkey blocks access to X accounts of media outlets and journalists

Among the blocked accounts are organizations such as Mezopotamya Agency, JinNews and X accounts of journalists with thousands of followers

JOINT STATEMENT: Immediately release the 4 detained journalists

Sixteen press and freedom of expression organizations, including P24, call for the immediate release of four journalists detained on 18 February

Lawsuit filed against Sibel Hürtaş for calling police officer "torturer" in her court defense

Sibel Hürtaş, who was sentenced to an administrative fine of TL 10,000 in the lawsuit filed against her, is prosecuted this time for calling the police officers “torturers” in her defense at hearing

"House arrest" lifted after 1 year: "We feel like journalists again"

Journalists kept under house arrest for a year after being detained in İzmir emphasized the need for an end to crackdown on the press

Journalist Şehriban Aslan acquitted

Aslan and two alleged news sources were on trial for “violating the right to privacy”

6 journalists detained in Van after removal of mayor

6 journalists covering the appointment of a trustee to the Van Metropolitan Municipality were detained by the police. Rabia Önver was released, while 5 journalists are still in custody

Freedom of Expression and the Press Agenda: 58 journalists detained, 11 jailed in 3 months

In the last quarter of 2024, 181 journalists stood trial in 102 cases. 18 journalists were sentenced; 25 new cases were filed against journalists; 58 journalists were detained, 11 were jailed

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