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 - 283

Boğaziçi students charged with “inciting hatred”; journalist Gök, cartoonist Kalender appear in court; politician Mahmut Alınak sentenced to 1.5 years; access to Mezopotamya news agency blocked

ANALYSIS |The debate on a new constitution: Turkey must respect the existing Constitution first

In an environment where freedom of expression is under this much pressure, there is no convenient discussion ground for a constitutional amendment, opposition lawmakers say

Journalist Abdurrahman Gök appears in court on "terror" charges

Best known for his photographs of Kemal Kurkut’s murder during 2017’s Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır, Gök is charged with "membership in a terrorist organization" and "terrorism propaganda"

ANALYSIS |Twitter might become inaccessible in Turkey as heftier penalty looms

Experts think free VPN services will fall short of providing access to Twitter, expected to be rendered inaccessible due to drastic bandwidth restrictions for failing to appoint a local representative

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 282

Four sentenced in Özgür Gündem trial; Prof. Fincancı fined for “insulting Erdoğan”; 5 journalists charged with “membership in terrorist group”; “propaganda” sentence given to HDP's Gergerlioğlu upheld

Prosecutor once again seeks conviction for journalist İsmail Çoban

Çoban, the former responsible editor of the shuttered Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat, is charged with “terrorism propaganda” over articles published in 2013

Four sentenced in Özgür Gündem main trial

Eren Keskin, İnan Kızılkaya and Kemal Sancılı handed down 6 years and 3 months each for "being a member of a terrorist organization"; Zana Kaya given 2 years and 1 month for "propaganda"

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 281

Academic Cenk Yiğiter’s sentence upheld; prosecutor seeks conviction for journalist Arif Aslan; Evrensel’s Görkem Kınacı to stand trial; columnists Ayşen Şahin, Ahmet Takan arrested

"Coup" case against Osman Kavala merged with Gezi Park trial

Already jailed for more than three years, Osman Kavala once again ordered to remain behind bars; Gezi Park trial to resume on 21 May

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 280

"Coup" trial against Osman Kavala merged with Gezi trial; journalists İdris Sayılğan and Alican Uludağ sentenced; journalist Berat Gonca sent to prison to serve sentence in "libel" case

Top