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 Nevşin Mengü acquitted

The court has decided to acquit Mengü, stating that “the legal elements of the crime were not present” in the statements made in two videos published on her YouTube channel

Three journalists sentenced for insulting Akın Gürlek in BirGün case

The court has sentenced İbrahim Aydın to 11 months and 20 days for “insult,” ordered Yaşar Gökdemir and Uğur Koç to pay fine of TL 34,500

Journalist Ercüment Akdeniz released pending verdict

Journalist Ercüment Akdeniz was jailed in February as part of the HDK investigation. Akdeniz was released 247 days later with a ban on leaving the country

T24 reporter Asuman Aranca sentenced to 10 months in prison over report on "Sinan Ateş murder"

The court has sentenced Aranca to 10 years in prison for “violating the confidentiality of the investigation,” and deferred the sentence

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 523

Top court annuls BİK's authority to impose penalties; journalist Hakan Tosun killed in İstanbul; two İHA reporters detained; journalist reports she and colleague received threats

Trial of Ahmet Kanbal for "disinformation" gets underway

The court has accepted Kanbal's request to defend himself in Mardin and postponed the trial until 3 November 2025

ANALYSIS | RTÜK: From regulatory body to censorship authority

RTÜK has a decisive influence on the public's right to information. Its founding purpose of “ensuring freedom of broadcasting” seems to have been replaced by a regulatory approach

Court decides to maintain international travel ban in journalist Yıldız Tar's case

The trial of journalist Yıldız Tar, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of the HDK investigation, has been adjourned until 23 February 2026

Journalist Rahime Karvar's case merged with the HDK case

In their final opinion on the case, the prosecutor requested that Karvar be punished for the crime of “membership in a terrorist organization”

Trial of Reyhan Hacıoğlu adjourned until January

Velat Ekin, who was jailed alongside Hacıoğlu as part of the same investigation and was granted release and acquittal at the first hearing in his trial, will testify as a witness

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