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.

Two Gezi Park trials merged

The trial against jailed businessperson and civil society leader Osman Kavala and 15 other defendants, including exiled journalist Can Dündar, will resume on 21 May

ANALYSIS | The Hrant Dink murder case: Crumbs that don't lead to the bakery

The main trial, which concluded on 26 March 2021, failed to satisfy the demands for justice and an effective investigation into the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 291

European Court’s Murat Sabuncu, Ahmet Şık judgments become final; İnci Aydın acquitted at her second hearing; RTÜK fines KRT TV, Halk TV; Turkey ranks 153rd in RSF 2021 World Press Freedom Index

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 290

Ahmet Altan released after more than 4.5 years behind bars; ECtHR issues long-awaited Ahmet Altan and Murat Aksoy judgments; former Zaman columnists Alpay, Bulaç, Türköne appear in court for retrial

Arrest warrant for Cengiz Çandar lifted

Çandar and Işıktaş are on trial for allegedly “praising crime and criminal” for social media posts they shared in 2017

Journalists İdris Sayılğan and Naci Kaya acquitted

Sayılğan and Kaya, who were detained in February 2020 as they were covering the refugee crisis near the Turkish-Greek border, were accused of "entering a military forbidden zone"

Ahmet Altan released after Supreme Court overturns his conviction

The court also overturned the conviction of Nazlı Ilıcak, who was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison for “aiding a terrorist organization” at the retrial

European Court rules Murat Aksoy’s detention violated right to liberty, freedom of expression

The Strasbourg Court held that, having regard to its findings under Article 5/1 and Article 10, it was not necessary to separately examine Aksoy’s complaint under Article 18

Retrial of former Zaman columnists and editor begins

Ruling to comply with the Supreme Court of Appeals judgment, the trial court decides to issue an arrest warrant for Özdemir, who did not attend the hearing

ECtHR: Ahmet Altan’s detention violated his right to liberty, freedom of expression

Noting that there was no indication that Altan’s actions had been part of a plan to overthrow the government, the European Court rules Altan has been unlawfully detained without reasonable suspicion

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