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 Hayri Demir’s trial to continue in October

Demir is charged with “memberhsip in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” over news material found in memory cards stolen from his home in 2016

ANALYSIS | Council of Europe: End the abuse of criminal laws, amend Articles 220, 299 and 301

ECtHR judgments against Turkey that found violations of freedom of expression, many of which have not been implemented for years, were once again on the agenda at the Committee of Ministers meeting

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 300

AFP’s Bülent Kılıç detained; 2 journalists assaulted in a week; prosecutor seeks sentence for Cumhuriyet journalists Ocak, Özbey, Akça and Arık; new investigation launched against Keskin, Kaya, Kanbal

Prosecutor seeks sentence for four Cumhuriyet journalists

Ocak, Akça, Özbey and Arık are charged with “violating the secrecy of one's private life” and “marking officials involved in the fight against terrorism as targets” over an April 2020 report

Jin News reporter Kibriye Evren's trial resumes in Diyarbakır

Court to seek Mersin 2nd High Criminal Court’s approval to merge two cases against Evren; trial adjourned until November

Officers who arrested journalist Beyza Kural in 2015 go on trial

The case follows on the heels of a Constitutional Court judgment which held that Kural’s arrest violated freedom of expression, freedom of the press and prohibition of ill-treatment

ANALYSIS | An assessment of the European Court's Ahmet Altan judgment

The frustration at the failure of the ECtHR to uphold Convention values with due courage may be the real reason for the criticisms against the Court in recent years

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey - 299

Court reverses decision to drop “propaganda” charge against Aslı Erdoğan; Oktay Candemir appears in court for new trial; Deniz Yücel charged with “insulting the president” in new indictment

ANALYSIS | Attacks on political party buildings: The state’s obligation to prevention and effective investigation

Without an effective investigation and prosecution that will reveal the persons and the motive behind the attack and a proportionate punishment, this attack, too, will remain unpunished

Journalist Oktay Candemir appears in court for new trial

Candemir is charged with “terrorism propaganda” for his social media posts and news footage found on his digital equipment seized during a 2019 police raid on his home

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