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.
There have been new detentions and at least one arrest in the investigation launched into the “media arm” of organization accused of being behind the July 15 coup attempt.
On Aug. 11, former Zaman journalist Ayşenur Parlak was arrested in Ankara. Her arrest brings the number of journalists known to have been arrested as part of the coup investigation to 43.
Also on Aug. 11, 42 employees of the state owned Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) were detained. A complete list of those who were detained in that operation wasn’t disclosed, but news reports suggest the detained include TRT anchors.
Ambiguity surrounding passport cancellations
Although there have been a large number of confirmed cancellations of passports held by journalists; lawyers, and even relatives of suspected journalists in the coup investigation, the authorities have remained mostly silent on what criteria are considered for canceling passports.
In the latest development regarding apparent efforts to limit journalists’ freedom of movement, the Directorate General of Press and Information announced that journalists holding passports designated for special service – issued on a short-term basis for a limited number of journalists in a given press organization – will have to get a notice from the General Directorate explicitly stating that the passport holder has not been barred from leaving the country.
On Aug. 8, Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Selina Doğan said she had been informed by the police department that all journalists’ passports had been cancelled as a measure to prevent coup suspects from fleeing. On Aug. 6, journalist Hayko Bağdat announced that his passport had been confiscated at an Istanbul airport, but later said his passport was returned as a result of the involvement of CHP deputies.
In a bid to acquire official information on the question of passports, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Meral Danış Beştaş filed a question motion in Parliament, demanding a response from Interior Minister Efkan Ala.
A total of 74,562 passports have been cancelled after the coup attempt, according to official figures.
There were several unconfirmed reports of cancellations of passports held by businessmen suspected of affiliation with the Gülen movement. Reports have claimed that Turkish authorities report passports as being stolen or lost to Interpol, outside the knowledge of the owner of the passport. Other reports suggest this practice had been ongoing even before the coup attempt and that Interpol officials are prepared to disregard some of the most recent cancellations. In response to a formal information request on the issue filed by P24, Interpol said passport cancellations must be in compliance with Article 3 of the organization’s Constitution, which states that Interpol cannot “undertake any activities that are of a political, military, religious or racial character” and that “any data submitted by a member country which is found to contravene Article 3 is removed from INTERPOL’s databases.” The organization did not comment on whether it has decided that Turkey’s cancellations contravene Article 3 or not.
Interpol has also said any queries regarding claims or reports of individuals with cancelled Turkish passports traveling to third countries should be referred to border officials in the relevant country, in a phone conversation that was initiated by Interpol to follow-up on its response to the initial information request.
In a related development, 200 journalists have been banned from entering the Turkish Parliament.
Academics have also been pressured since the declaration of State of Emergency in Turkey. On Aug. 9, two academics, who had signed the Academics for Peace declaration against security operations in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated areas were removed from their positions, according to social media reports.
Alleged pressure on families
There have been several claims of maltreatment and pressure on families of those suspected of involvement in the coup plot, yet authorities haven’t made any statement concerning these allegations s far.
Tarık Korucu, the son of former Zaman columnist Bülent Korucu, had earlier claimed that his mother, Hacer Korucu, was arrested by police with officials saying she would be released only if Bülent Korucu turns himself in. Rebecca Harms, co-President of the Greens/European Free Alliance publicly expressed concern over these allegations on Twitter.
Detentions outside the coup probe
State of Emergency conditions have also helped authorities to increase pressure on other critical press. On Aug. 10, Evrensel reporters Hasan Akbaş, Fırat Topal, Serpil Berk and freelancer Sertaç Kayar were detained in Diyarbakır. The four journalists were subject to maltreatment under detention and officials made veiled proposals to recruit the journalists as agents for the police, according to lawyer Rengin Ergül, who visited the four journalists in jail. The journalists were released on Aug. 12.
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 |
Arda Akın, Hürriyet reporter, Released on probation |
Arzu Yıldız, Haberdar |
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 Zaman 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
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.
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