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 – 510

Satirical magazine LeMan's Aslan Özdemir jailed; 4 journalists released pending trial; 2 journalists given jail term in 2 cases; indictment filed against Fatih Altaylı

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 509

Court suspends execution of Halk TV's 10-day broadcasting ban; investigation launched into X's AI tool Grok; ECtHR rules Selahattin Demirtaş’s rights violated; Furkan Karabay fined

Journalist Mehmet Üçar released pending trial

Üçar, who had been in pre-trial detention for 225 days on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” has been released pending trial at the end of the first hearing 

Rights organizations condemn the issuance of arrest warrant targeting Nedim Türfent

Forty-three rights organizations, including P24, sound alarm over threat of extradition facing the Kurdish writer, journalist and poet Nedim Türfent

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 508

The date set for 10-day broadcast bans of Sözcü TV and Halk TV; 4 people jailed in LeMan investigation; Hamza Kaan released pending trial; top court rules for rights violation in Evrensel daily case

JOINT STATEMENT: Release journalists jailed in Artvin-based investigation

Nineteen human rights organizations, including P24, have called for the release of the five journalists imprisoned pending trial in an Artvin-based investigation

Satirical magazine staff arrested over alleged depiction of Prophet

LeMan's latest issue was also seized while access to its website and its X account was blocked

Freedom of Expression and the Press Agenda: 25 journalists imprisoned in first quarter, record penalties issued by RTÜK

According to the quarterly report, 157 journalists stood trial in 90 separate cases in the first quarter of 2025. A total of 25 journalists were imprisoned and 50 were arrested

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 507

Journalists Fatih Altaylı and Metin Yoksu jailed; RTÜK imposes 10-day broadcasting ban on Halk TV; top court rules for “rights violation” in Hayko Bağdat case; Züleyha Müldür released pending trial

Decision not to prosecute journalist detained on suspicion of "disinformation" in Adana

The decision stated that it is natural for public officials to be subject to harsher criticism than other individuals

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