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.

Court sentences Yeni Asya editor Nur Ener Kılınç to 7.5 years in prison

Court rules for the continuation of Kılıç’s house arrest, imposed on the journalist following her release from pretrial detention in February An Istanbul court on May

DİHA reporter incarcerated for 19 months to remain in jail

İdris Sayılğan could not address the court session due to technical problem with court video-conferencing system  ÖZGÜN ÖZÇER / MUŞ The third

Article 301 case against Ahmet Şık adjourned until September

Judge interrupts Şık’s critical comments concerning state practice during hearing, forbids journalists covering the trial from using laptops 

Compensation case against Ahmet Altan dismissed

Two separate compensation cases brought against Altan heard in Istanbul and Ankara on the same day   An Istanbul court dismissed on

Journalists in State of Emergency - 141

Azadiya Welat editor handed down prison sentence for “propaganda”; indictment seeks 10.5 years in prison for Sibel Hürtaş and Hayri Demir 

Journalists in State of Emergency - 140

Özgür Gündem publisher and editor jailed; Court lifts Şahin Alpay’s house arrest, releases 2 journalists from pretrial detention in “Zaman trial” Two Turkish courts o

Bulaç, Özdemir released, Alpay’s house arrest lifted 

Four journalists remain behind bars at the end of fourth hearing in Zaman case; court adjourns trial until June 7 The fourth hearing in the long-running trial in

Former Zaman columnist Ali Ünal ordered to remain behind bars

Trial of Ünal, who faces aggravated life sentence on “coup” and “terrorism” charges, adjourned until 18 July   Former Zaman columnist Ali Üna

Columnists, editors of Zaman set for final hearing

Court expected to issue verdict concerning 11 columnists and editors of shuttered Zaman newspaper, on trial on “coup” and terrorism-related charges

Şerife Oruç remains behind bars in 5th hearing

Şerife Oruç in pretrial detention for almost 2 years; Court orders witnesses who testified against Oruç to be brought before court by force 

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