Report: Fewer journalists in prison but more face trials, fines in Türkiye

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Sixty-seven people were sentenced to a total of over 299 years in prison in 41 cases related to freedom of expression in about 10 months, according to a report released yesterday (December 5) by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).

The report covering trials between September 1, 2021, and July 20, 2022 also shows that the local courts are not implementing related ECtHR decisions.

The association has been monitoring freedom of expression cases since 2018. Their last report released covers the period between September 1, 2021, and July 20, 2022.

Veysel Ok, the Co-Director of MLSA, spoke at the event organized in order to introduce the report and stated that the investigations and the lawsuits violating freedom of expression were increasing in number in Türkiye.

One problem is that the people standing trial do not know what they are facing, according to Ok who says that they are struggling for the right to fair trial.

Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Türkiye Director Beate Apelt has also spoken in the event and said, "When you read the report you see that the trials journalists, lawyers, students, and activists are facing are violations of freedom of expression." She added that she hoped that there will not be any need for such monitoring projects in Türkiye in the future.

FNF is supporting the work of MLSA.

"Most cases are related to terrorism charges"

Murat Mümtaz Kök, the project coordinator who has also written the report shared the details of the report.

Kök said, "Basic rights granted by the Constitution are being criminalized more and more every day."

Kök informed that 67 people who stood trial in 41 cases the association identifies as violating freedom of expression were sentenced to 299 years 2 months and 24 days of imprisonment in Türkiye in the period the report covers.

He said, "Unfortunately presumption of innocence is forgotten each time. Cases are opened which should never have been presented and journalists, lawyers, students, and activists are convicted. Terrorism allegations continue despite a decrease and constitute the majority of the cases. The allegation that we see most often among terrorism allegations is propaganda."

Fewer journalists in prison

Following the presentation of the report, some questions were addressed to Ok and Kök. When reminded about the record number of journalists in prison following the coup attempt on July 15, 2015, and that there is now less number of journalists in prison and asked how they see the situation, both responded to the question.

Ok said, "Yes, there are not so many journalists in prison in Türkiye as in the period following 2016. Once the number was 180. There are more than 800 journalists who are arrested and then released. The trials turned into intimidation, it is a government policy. The government wants to show the international media that 'there are less journalists in prison in Türkiye.'"

Kök said on the other hand, "The government does not consider those in prison as journalists anyhow. The trials themselves have turned into punishment. Another problem is the 'deferment of the announcement of the verdict.' Verdicts are given but deferred [to be executed if the same offense is committed again]. This is a policy of intimidation in order to make people scared. I have not so far seen any journalist self-censoring as a result. I hope this will not change."

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(HA/PE/VK)