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.
Editor-in-chief of Özgür Gündem Zana Bilir Kaya and the same newspaper’s managing editor İnan Kızılkaya were arrested on August 22.
The two journalists face charges of membership in a terrorist organization, propagating on behalf of a terrorist organization and disrupting the unity and the integrity of the state.
On Aug. 21, journalist Tuğba Tekerek was detained overnight by officers from the Gayrettepe Police Department while taking pictures for a story. Tekerek was kept in custody on charges of “insulting” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a recent tweet. She was released after testifying to prosecutors on Aug. 22.
Two more arrests in coup probe
Two of the 14 journalists who were detained in Antalya on July 25 as part of the operation into the “media arm” of the Fethullah Gülen movement, part of the investigation into Turkey’s probe into the coup attempt of July 15, were arrested on Aug. 21. The names of those put under arrest are Tuncer Çetinkaya, a former Antalya bureau chief for the defunct daily Zaman and Olgun Matur, the owner of a local newspaper in Antalya.
Imprisoned journalists
Currently, there are 93 journalists in Turkey’s prisons who are under arrest pending trial. 51 journalists were arrested as part of the coup probe; nine after Turkey’s declaration of State of Emergency in investigations unrelated to the coup probe and 33 of those in prison were arrested before the coup attempt. This figure doesn’t include those journalists who are in custody, but haven’t yet formally been charged.
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, Under arrest |
| 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
Alaattin Kaya, former owner to Zaman’s rights, 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 Matur, Local Antalya journalist, Under arrest |
| 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, Under arrest |
| 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, Released
Fatma Edemen – ETHA, Released
Zana Kaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Günay Aksoy – Özgür Gündem, Released
Kemal Bozkurt – Özgür Gündem, Released
Reyhan Hacıoğlu – Özgür Gündem, Released
Önder Elaldı – Özgür Gündem, Released
Ender Önder – Özgür Gündem, Released
Sinan Balık – Özgür Gündem, Released
Fırat Yeşilçınar – Özgür Gündem, Released
İnan Kızılkaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody
Özgür Paksoy – DİHA muhabiri, Released
Zeki Erden – Özgür Gündem, Released
Elif Aydoğmuş – Özgür Gündem, Released
Ersin Çaksu – Özgür Gündem, Released
Mesut Kaynar – DİHA, Released
Sevdiye Gürbüz – Özgür Gündem, Released
Amine Demirkıran – Özgür Gündem, Released
Bayram Balcı – Özgür Gündem, Released
Burcu Özkaya – Özgür Gündem, Released
Yılmaz Bozkurt – İstanbul Tabip Odası Basın Bürosu, Released
Gülfem Karataş – İMC TV, Released
Gökhan Çetin – İMC TV, Released
Hüseyin Gündüz – Doğu Publishing House, Released
Halil Poalt – DİHA, In custody
Erdem Mühirci – DİHA, In custody
Sabahattin Koyuncu – DİHA, 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
Metin Bekiroğlu – DİHA, Under arrest
Aslı Erdoğan – Özgür Gündem, Under arrest
Zana Kaya – Özgür Gündem, Under arrest
İnan Kızılkaya – Özgür Gündem, 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