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.
On. Aug. 17, police raided the homes of Aslı Erdoğan, a novelist of international renown and a board member at Özgür Gündem and Ragıp Zarakolu, a columnist of the newspaper.
Aslı Erdoğan was detained during the police raid on her home and taken to the detention center of the Istanbul Police Department’s Counterterrorism Branch. Reports said Erdoğan, a prominent writer whose works have been translated into many languages and who was chosen by the French literary journal Lire amongst the “50 Writers of Future,” will not be allowed to see her lawyer in the first five days of her detention as per a decision of the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office. However, a tweet later suggested that the prosecutor currently assigned to Erdoğan’s case denied that the writer had been banned from seeing her lawyer. Under Turkey’s State of Emergency rules, the detention period can last up to 30 days and prosecutors have the authority to bar suspects from seeing their lawyers in the first five days of their detention.
Police also raided a house that belongs to the son of Ragıp Zarakolu, a prominent writer, publisher, journalist and human rights-activist, on the grounds that his son’s home is the writer’s formal residence. Zarakolu, who posted a statement on Facebook stated that his son wasn’t home when the police broke in, adding that books found at the residence had been confiscated.
On Aug. 16, Özgür Gündem was shuttered and 23 journalists, including those with Özgür Gündem, Dicle News Agency and İMC, were taken into custody.
A summary of detentions and arrests in State of Emergency
On July 20, Turkey declared a State of Emergency, with officials saying such an extreme measure is necessary to shed full light on the failed coup attempt of July 15. Since the declaration of State of Emeregncy, 44 Kurdish journalists were taken into custody as part of investigations unrelated to the coup probe. Eight of those detained were released, while four others have been arrested. The number of Kurdish journalists who were detained after the declaration of State of Emergency and who are still under detention is 32.
Forty-five journalists have been arrested as part of the coup investigation. Currently, 14 other journalists taken into custody as part of the coup probe are under detention.
Last known legal status of journalists for whom detention warrants have been issued as part of post-coup probe
Abdullah Abdulkadiroğlu, Samanyolu TV, Left the country according to AA |
Abdullah Katırcıoğlu, In custody |
Abdullah Kılıç, Meydan Gazetesi columnist, Under arrest |
Abdullah Özyurt, local Adana journalist, Under arrest |
Adil Gülçek, Former Cihan Medya Director |
Ahmet Dönmez, Former Zaman reporter, Left the country according to AA |
Ahmet Memiş, Haberdar, In custody |
Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş, Vice President of Cihan Media Executive Board, Under arrest |
Ahmet Turan Alkan, Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest |
Ahmet Yavaş, TRT (Erzurum), Under arrest |
Alaattin Güner, Former Cihan Medya Director, Under arrest |
Ali Akbulut, owner of Zaman’s rights, formerly |
Ali Akkuş, Former Zaman General Publications Editor, Under arrest |
Ali Bulaç ,Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest |
Ali Ünal, Zaman columnist, Under arrest |
Arda Akın, Hürriyet reporter, Released on probation |
Arzu Yıldız, Haberdar Ankara Bureau Chief |
Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak, Yarına Bakış, Under arrest |
Aytekin Gezici, Under arrest |
Ayşenur Parıldak, former Zaman correspondent, Under arrest |
Bayram Kaya, Zaman, Yeni Hayat reporter, Under arrest |
Behçet Akyar |
Bertan Golal, TRT İstanbul, In custody |
Bilal Şahin, Özgür Düşünce, Left the country according to AA |
Bülent Ceyhan, Özgür Düşünce reporter, Left the country according to AA |
Bülent Keneş, Former Today's Zaman Editor-in-Chief |
Bülent Korucu, Former Zaman columnist |
Bülent Mumay, Former Hürriyet Digital Publications Coordinator, Released by court order |
Bünyamin Köseli, Former Aksiyon reporter, Under arrest |
Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Under arrest |
Cevheri Güven, Nokta Magazine Editor-in-Chief |
Cihan Acar, Former Bugün reporter, Under arrest |
Cuma Kaya, Under arrest |
Cuma Ulus, Former Publications Coordinator for Millet daily, Under arrest |
Emre Koçali, Haberdar, In custody |
Emre Soncan, Former Zaman Defense Reporter, Under arrest |
Ercan Gün, Fox TV News Editor, Released on probation, arrested in another investigation |
Erkan Akkuş, Former Bugün TV Anchor |
Erkan Büyük, Haberdar, In custody |
Ertuğrul Erbaş, Former Nokta Magazine Editor |
Faruk Akkan, Cihan Ajansı, Under arrest |
Faruk Kardıç |
Fatih Akalan, Samanyolu Haber Tv commentator, Left the country according to AA |
Fatih Yağmur, Former Radikal reporter, Left the country according to AA |
Fevzi Yazıcı, Zaman Visual Director (formerly), Under arrest |
Habip Güler, Former Zaman reporter, Under arrest |
Hakan Bülent Yardımcı, In custody |
Hakan Taşdelen, Under arrest |
Halil İbrahim Mert, TRT (Erzurum), Under arrest |
Hamit Bilici, Former Zaman Editor-in-Chief |
Hamit Çiçek |
Hanım Büşra Erdal, Former Zaman reporter and columnist, Under arrest |
Haşim Söylemez, Former Aksiyon Magazine columnist, Under arrest |
Hilmi Yavuz, Former Zaman columnist, Released due to poor health, will testify at a later time |
Hüseyin Aydın, Cihan reporter, Under arrest |
Hüseyin Döğme |
Hüseyin Turan, Partner in Feza Group (owners of Zaman), Under arrest |
İbrahim Balta, Former Zaman Business Editor, Under arrest |
İhsan Duran Dağı, Former Zaman columnist, Released by prosecutor without court referral |
İsi Siyi, Haberdar, In custody |
Kamil Maman, Former Bugün reporter, Left the country according to AA |
Kerim Gün, Former Zaman Editor |
Lalezar Sarıibrahimoğlu (Lale Kemal), Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest |
Levent Kenez, Meydan Gazetesi Editor-in-Chief |
Lokman Erdoğan, Çorum Manşet (local newspaper), In custody |
Mahmut Hazar, Cihan News Agency, Left the country according to AA |
Mehmet Akif Afşar |
Mehmet Gündem, Former Milliyet columnist, Released by court order |
Mehmet Kamış, Former Zaman columnist |
Mehmet Özdemir, Under arrest |
Melih Kılıç, Zaman Media Group Sales Department |
Metin Tamer Gökçeoğlu |
Metin Yıkar, Samanyolu Haber |
Muhammed Fatih Uğur, Former Zaman News Manager |
Murat Avcıoğlu, Under arrest |
Mustafa Erkan Acar, Cihan News Agency, Under arrest |
Mustafa Ünal, Under arrest |
Mümtaz'er Türköne, Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest |
Mürsel Genç, Former Cihan reporter |
Nevzat Güner |
Nuri Durna, TRT (Ezurum), Under arrest |
Nuriye Ural (Akman), Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest |
Oktay Vızvız, |
Olgun Batur, Local Antalya journalist, In custody |
Osman Nuri Arslan, Partner in finance company FIA, Released on probation |
Osman Nuri Öztürk, Released on probation |
Ömer Karakaş |
Özcan Keser, TRT İstanbul, In custody |
Rıfat Söylemez, Adana Günaydın (local newspaper), In custody |
Sait Sefa, Haberdar |
Sedat Yetişkin |
Selahattin Sevi, Former Zaman Photograpy Coordinator, Left the country according to AA |
Sevgi Akarçeşme, Former Today’s Zaman Editor-in-Chief |
Seyid Kılıç, Former TRT reporter, Under arrest |
Süleyman Sargın |
Şahin Alpay, Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest |
Şenol Kahraman |
Şeref Yılmaz, Irmak TV, Under arrest |
Taner Talaş, Adana Yerel, In custody |
Tuncer Çetinkaya, Zaman Antalya, In custody |
Turan Görüryılmaz, Can Erzincan TV anchor, Left the country according to AA |
Ufuk Emin Köroğlu, Karşı Gazete reporter, Left the country according to AA |
Ufuk Şanlı, Former Vatan columnist, Under arrest |
Veysel Ayhan |
Yakup Çetin, Former Zaman reporter, Under arrest |
Yakup Sağlam, Former Samanyolu reporter, Released on probation |
Yalçın Güler, TRT (Erzurum), Under arrest |
Yüksel Durgut |
Yüksel Evsen, Adana local journalist, In custody |
Zafer Özsoy, Under arrest |
Zeki Önal, Not taken into custody due to advanced age and illness; his home was searched |
Journalists detained under State of Emergency outside coup probe
Selami Aslan – DİHA, Released
Mehmet Sıddık Damar – DİHA, Released
Esra Aydın – JİNHA, Released
Geylan Arslan – JİNHA, Released
Nizamettin Yılmaz – Azadiya Welat, In custody
İdris Yılmaz – DİHA, In custody
Selman Keleş – DİHA, In custody
Hasan Akbaş – Evrensel, Released
Fırat Topal – Evrensel, Released
Serpil Berk – Evrensel, Released
Sertaç Kayar – Freelance journalist, Released
Engin Eren – DİHA, In custody
Metin Bekiroğlu – DİHA, In custody
Fatma Edemen – ETHA, In custody
Zana Kaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Günay Aksoy – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Kemal Bozkurt – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Reyhan Hacıoğlu – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Önder Elaldı – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Ender Önder – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Sinan Balık – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Fırat Yeşilçınar – Özgür Gündem, In custody
İnan Kızılkaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Özgür Paksoy – DİHA muhabiri, In custody
Zeki Erden – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Elif Aydoğmuş – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Bilir Kaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Ersin Çaksu – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Mesut Kaynar – DİHA, In custody
Sevdiye Gürbüz – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Amine Demirkıran – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Bayram Balcı – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Burcu Özkaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Yılmaz Bozkurt – İstanbul Tabip Odası Basın Bürosu, In custody
Gülfem Karataş – İMC TV, In custody
Gökhan Çetin – İMC TV, In custody
Hüseyin Gündüz – Doğu Publishing House, In custody
Aslı Erdoğan – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Journalists known to have been arrested during State of Emergency outside coup probe
Zeynel Abidin Bulut – Azadiya Welat, Under arrest
Zehra Doğan – JİNHA, Under arrest
Hülya Karakaya – Özgür Halk, Under arrest
Mehmet Arslan – DİHA, Under arrest
Lindsey Snell – Freelance journalist, Under arrest
Şermin Soydan – DİHA (arrested before the declaration of the State of Emergency), Under arrest
List of media outlets shut down under State of Emergency decrees
TV Stations: Barış TV, Bugün TV, Can Erzincan TV, Dünya TV, Hira TV, Irmak TV, Kanal 124, Kanaltürk, MC TV, Mehtap TV, Merkür TV, Samanyolu Haber, Samanyolu TV, SRT TV, Tuna Shopping TV, Yumurcak TV.
News Agencies: Cihan Haber Ajansı, Muhabir Haber Ajansı and SEM Haber Ajansı
Newspapers: Adana Haber, Adana Medya, Akdeniz Türk, Şuhut’un Sesi, Kurtuluş, Lider, İscehisar, Durum, Türkeli, Antalya, Yerel Bakış, Nazar, Batman, Batman Postası, Batman Doğuş, Bingöl Olay, İrade, İskenderun Olay, Ekonomi, Ege’de Son Söz, Demokrat Gebze, Kocaeli Manşet, Bizim Kocaeli, Haber Kütahya, Gediz, Zafer, Hisar, Turgutlu Havadis, Milas Feza, Türkiye’de Yeni Yıldız, Hakikat, Urfa Haber Ajansı, Ajans 11, Yeni Emek, Banaz Postası, Son Nokta, Merkür Haber, Millet, Bugün, Meydan, Özgür Düşünce, Taraf, Yarına Bakış, Yeni Hayat, Zaman, Today’s Zaman, Özgür Gündem.
Magazines: Akademik Araştırmalar, Aksiyon, Asya Pasifik, Bisiklet Çocuk, Diyalog, Avrasya, Ekolife, Ekoloji, Fountain, Gonca, Gül Yaprağı, Nokta, Sızıntı, Yağmur, Yeni Ümit, Zirve.
Radio stations: Aksaray Mavi, Aktüel, Berfin, Burç, Cihan, Dünya, Esra, Haber Radyo Ege, Herkül, Jest, Kanaltürk, Radyo 59, Radyo Aile Rehberi, Radyo Bamteli, Radyo Cihan, Radyo Fıkıh, Radyo Küre, Radyo Mehtap, Radyo Nur, Radyo Şemşik, Samanyolu Haber, Umut, Yağmur.
Publishing houses: Altınburç, Burak Basın Yayın Dağıtım, Define, Dolunay Eğitim Yayın Dağıtım, Giresun Basın Yayın Dağıtım, Gonca, Gülyurdu, GYV, Işık Akademi, Işık Özel Eğitim, İklim Basın Yayın Pazarlama, Kaydırak, Kaynak, Kervan Basın Yayıncılık, Kuşak, Muştu, Nil, Rehber, Sürat Basım Yayın Reklamcılık Eğitim Araçları, Sütun, Şahdamar, Ufuk Basın Yayın Haber Ajans Pazarlama, Ufuk, Waşanxaneya Nil, Yay Basın Dağıtım, Yeni Akademi, Yitik Hazine, Zambak Basın Yayın Eğitim Turizm
*Glossary of legal terms used in this text
Detain / Place in custody: To hold in police custody for police interrogation first, and later for testimony to a prosecutor. Might lead to a court appearance depending on the action taken by the prosecutor.
Arrest: To put into prison indefinitely – by court order – pending trial.
Released on probation: Released with an international flight ban issued. Usually entails checking in regularly with a designated police station.
These lists have been compiled by P24 editors from open news sources and will be updated regularly. Journalists who want to report developments about themselves or their colleagues can contact us at punto24info@gmail.com