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 Furkan Karabay released from prison

The court, which has sentenced Karabay to a total of 4 years and 3 months in prison on three separate charges, has ruled for the journalist's release

Prosecutor demands sentencing for Elif Akgül

The court has postponed the case until 20 January 20 to allow for the preparation of defenses against the prosecutor’s opinion, and has decided to continue the international travel ban on Akgül

Four journalists appear before judge for their comments

Journalists have stated, “In a normal country, journalists would be commended for doing their job because of this story, but in Turkey, we are being prosecuted”

Eight journalists acquitted in Saraçhane trial

The court that acquitted journalists who were detained and held for two days for covering the Saraçhane protests stated, “It has not been established that the alleged crime was committed"

Trial of journalists detained while covering press conference gets underway

Toral, who said she was beaten during her detention, said, “The violence I suffered during my detention caused a tear in my left hip. I still cannot react quickly when covering a news”

Anonymous witness heard in trial of journalist Abdurrahman Gök

The anonymous witness heard in the trial of Abdurrahman Gök, who is being tried over his news reports and social media posts, stated, “I did not witness any other actions besides his news reports”

Journalist Fatih Altaylı kept in prison, given jail term

Altaylı, who had been in pre-trial detention for 158 days for “threatening the president,” has been sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison. The court ruled that Altaylı remain in detention

Warrant issued for the compulsory appearance of Ayşenur Arslan in the Metastaz 2-Cendere case

The lawsuit filed against 10 people, nine of whom are journalists, following a complaint filed by President Erdoğan’s former lawyer, Mustafa Doğan İnal, has been postponed until April 2026

Trial of journalist Tolga Şardan adjourned until April

T24 columnist Tolga Şardan is on trial on charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “denigrating the state’s judicial organs” over an article on alleged corruption in judiciary

LeMan cartoonist Doğan Pehlevan released after 139 days

Pehlevan, who was imprisoned pending trial for “insulting the president,” has been released under judicial control measures, including a ban on leaving the country and weekly reporting

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