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 Agenda: Journalists under siege from threats, violence, judicial pressure

In the 2nd quarter of 2024, 192 journalists stood trial in 101 cases. In 24 cases that concluded, 12 journalists were sentenced. New cases were filed against 9 journalists; 5 journalists were jailed

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 460

Top court cancels authority given to the Directorate of Communication; Diren Keser released; Constitutional Court rules for “rights violation” in Sinan Aygül’s case; RTÜK investigation against Halk TV

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 459

Devlet Bahçeli targets 154 academics and journalists; Vedat Demir's prison sentence overturned by the Court of Cassation; Mehmet Kamış and Ali Çolak released pending trial

Imprisoned journalists Mehmet Kamış and Ali Çolak released pending trial

The case file of Kamış, Çolak and eight other defendants against whom detention warrants were issued had been separated in September 2017

Decision of non-prosecution for 3 journalists who were detained in house raid

The prosecutor has stated that “there was no concrete evidence” in investigation launched against Oktay Candemir, Arif Aslan and Lokman Gezgin

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 458

Sadık Topaloğlu imprisoned pending trial; Abdullah Kaya threatened by police commanding officer; final hearing in the Hrant Dink main case to be held in October

Journalist Hayko Bağdat given jail term on charge of "insulting the president"

The court has ruled to acquit Bağdat of “inciting the people to hatred and enmity” and “insulting a public official” as the legal elements of the crime had not formed

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 457

Execution of the penalty issued by RTÜK to Açık Radyo suspended; Sadık Topaloğlu detained; Hayko Bağdat sentenced to imprisonment; Öznur Değer acquitted

Rights organizations condemn RTÜK decision to revoke license of Açık Radyo

The IPI and the undersigned freedom of the press and expression organizations condemn the decision by Turkey’s broadcast regulator to revoke the license of independent radio station Açık Radyo

Evrensel daily columnist İhsan Çaralan’s case dropped

The court has decided to drop the case on the grounds that the 5-year probation period of deferment of the sentence issued for Çaralan expired

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