freedom of expression

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Author Erdal Yıldırım given prison sentence for 'terror propaganda'

Author Erdal Yıldırım given prison sentence for 'terror propaganda'

Yıldırım’s tweets about the Kobanî battle in Syria and a revolutionary have been deemed “terror propaganda.”

5 November 2021

Police probe 30 people over Erdoğan death rumors on Twitter

Police probe 30 people over Erdoğan death rumors on Twitter

The hashtag "#ölmüş" (dead) has been in Twitter's trending topics in Turkey since midnight.

3 November 2021

‘We will not stay silent in the face of threats against the opposition’

‘We will not stay silent in the face of threats against the opposition’

A group of NGOs have denounced President Erdoğan for showing the video of the attempted lynch against main opposition CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu at the AKP group meeting, underlining that the government encourages attacks on the opposition.

1 November 2021

Terror propaganda, insulting president most common charges in 'silencing criticism'

Terror propaganda, insulting president most common charges in 'silencing criticism'

The Human Right Foundation of Turkey has documented the violations of freedom of expression between 2015 and 2019.

26 October 2021

'No case would be filed had he called Bahçeli "demented" instead of dotard'

'No case would be filed had he called Bahçeli "demented" instead of dotard'

A social media user was fined for calling the MHP leader a "dotard." A hearing was held today after the defendant appealed the decision.

15 October 2021 Ayça Söylemez

Non-prosecution for sharing drawing of Erdoğan, 1980 coup general

Non-prosecution for sharing drawing of Erdoğan, 1980 coup general

"Only incitements that 'contain violence or advise violence' can be considered within the scope of the article," the prosecutor's office has said.

13 October 2021 Ayça Söylemez

Standing trial for covering a protest march, journalist Ruşen Takva acquitted

Standing trial for covering a protest march, journalist Ruşen Takva acquitted

Facing up to 19 years in prison for following up a press statement on "Kurdish national unity" organized by the HDP, DTK and DBP in Van and the protest march held afterwards, journalist Ruşen Takva has been acquitted of the offenses charged.

12 October 2021

Agent-provocateur students, anti-camera shields, outlawed waste pickers and more

WEEKLY ROUNDUP #11

Agent-provocateur students, anti-camera shields, outlawed waste pickers and more

Erdoğan and Bahçeli take on students • Hundreds of waste pickers detained in İstanbul • 460 prisoners with a PhD degree • Gezi trial resumes • Turkey once again accused of child recruitment

12 October 2021 Volga Kuşçuoğlu

MLSA: Journalists, activists increasingly charged with terrorism in 2021

MLSA: Journalists, activists increasingly charged with terrorism in 2021

Sixty-four percent of the evidence against the defendants were related to journalism activities, according to the MLSA's Trial Monitoring Report.

Six journalists in Turkey sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison in September

Six journalists in Turkey sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison in September

The Turkish Journalists' Association has released the "Price of the News" September report.

Criminal case against social media user for calling Erdoğan aide a 'swine'

Criminal case against social media user for calling Erdoğan aide a 'swine'

The social media user who said he was joking now faces a prison sentence or a judicial fine.

1 October 2021 Ayça Söylemez

Writer Nurcan Kaya given deferred prison sentence for 2014 tweet

Writer Nurcan Kaya given deferred prison sentence for 2014 tweet

Kaya has been convicted of "propagandizing for an illegal organization" because of a tweet about the battle against ISIS in a Kurdish town in Syria.

27 September 2021

Tax office levies attachment on protestor’s bank account over her press statements

'I WANT MY JOB BACK'

Tax office levies attachment on protestor’s bank account over her press statements

Discharged from public service and fined over her press statements during her protests “to get her job back”, Bozkurt faces an attachment of 281 thousand lira on her bank account. She notes that courts have already cancelled these fines.

27 September 2021 Ayça Söylemez

Citizen sentenced to prison for ‘insulting Erdoğan’ with a news headline

Citizen sentenced to prison for ‘insulting Erdoğan’ with a news headline

Diken news website in Turkey covered a news report by Germany’s BILD newspaper, which said “Dictator Erdoğan” in its headline. 62-year-old Tekiner has been sentenced to 1 year, 3 months in prison for sharing Diken’s news on social media.

27 September 2021

Court dismisses Albayrak's suit against law professor over 'Paradise Papers' articles

Court dismisses Albayrak's suit against law professor over 'Paradise Papers' articles

Serhat Albayrak, the brother of President Erdoğan's son-in-law, had sued Prof. Akdeniz for sharing a court order banning a news article about his offshore accounts in Malta.

23 September 2021 Hikmet Adal

Freedom House report: Turkey is not free on the net

Freedom House report: Turkey is not free on the net

Turkey is the country with the fastest decline in internet freedom, according to Gürkan Özturan, the rapporteur for Turkey.

21 September 2021 Hikmet Adal

‘Police interventions against peaceful meetings, demonstrations continued in August’

İHD-TİHV REPORT

‘Police interventions against peaceful meetings, demonstrations continued in August’

Prepared by the Human Rights Association and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, a recent report shows that “there was no positive change in the violations happening in terms of freedom of expression, meeting and organization in August.”

20 September 2021

Reports on drug baron with ties to senior AKP deputy censored

MEDIA MONITORING DATABASE

Reports on drug baron with ties to senior AKP deputy censored

In two weeks, new investigations were opened against five journalists, one journalist was attacked, and a reporter was prevented from covering a demonstration by the police.

9 September 2021 Volga Kuşçuoğlu

ECtHR: Prison sentence over Facebook photos violates freedom of expression

ECtHR: Prison sentence over Facebook photos violates freedom of expression

The European Court of Human Rights has pronounced its judgement on an imam from Diyarbakır who was convicted of “propagandizing for the PKK” over the pictures that he had shared on Facebook. The imam will be paid damages.

2 September 2021 Ayça Söylemez

‘Social media’ complaints increase by half during the pandemic

‘Social media’ complaints increase by half during the pandemic

Speaking about the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor has said, “We have witnessed an increase in the number of crimes committed on social media applications such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.”

1 September 2021

Constitutional Court: Prison sentence for column article violated journalist's rights

Constitutional Court: Prison sentence for column article violated journalist's rights

A local journalist was sentenced to 2 years and 5 months in prison because of his articles targeting a lawyer.

Lawsuit against writer Yavuz Ekinci for social media posts on Newroz, Kobanî battle

Lawsuit against writer Yavuz Ekinci for social media posts on Newroz, Kobanî battle

The writer faces a lawsuit because of tweets he posted in 2013 and 2014.

Turkey's planned legislation on fake news 'alarming,' says IPI

Turkey's planned legislation on fake news 'alarming,' says IPI

The government is reportedly working to introduce prison sentences for spreading fake news on social media and a regulatory body for social media platforms.

Stage actor Genco Erkal faces prison sentence for insulting Erdoğan

Stage actor Genco Erkal faces prison sentence for insulting Erdoğan

The 83-year-old actor faces a prison sentence because of his tweets about the presidential system and the decades-long allegations that Erdoğan did not graduate from university.

Report: Turkey to establish regulatory body for social media

Report: Turkey to establish regulatory body for social media

Those who spread fake news on social media will face up to five years in prison, a pro-government daily has reported.

Calling the father a ‘liar’ in custody case is freedom of expression, says the top court

Calling the father a ‘liar’ in custody case is freedom of expression, says the top court

A lawyer was penalized for writing “...the father has the disposition of a liar and fraud” in a petition during the custody case after he lied to his children that their mother had died. The Constitutional Court has concluded that it is within freedom of expression.

12 August 2021 Ayça Söylemez

RTÜK threatens TV broadcasters with penalties over coverage of massive wildfires

RTÜK threatens TV broadcasters with penalties over coverage of massive wildfires

TV outlets will face the "heaviest sanctions" if they continue to overlook the extinguished fires while focusing on ongoing fires, the media authority has stated.

'The government does not want any accurate information to reach the public'

IPI TURKEY COORDINATOR

'The government does not want any accurate information to reach the public'

The Turkey coordinator of the International Press Institute has commented on the recent "foreign-funded media" debate in country.

30 July 2021 Hikmet Adal

Violence, censorship and a restraining order against journalists

MEDIA MONITORING DATABASE

Violence, censorship and a restraining order against journalists

Eight journalists were injured by police, a restraining order was issued against a journalist for a report about the sub-governor and news articles about the interior minister's cousin was banned.

28 July 2021 Volga Kuşçuoğlu

Lawsuit over HDP’s anti-nuclear press statement

Lawsuit over HDP’s anti-nuclear press statement

17 people from the HDP have been put on trial for attending the press statement against the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin. They are charged with “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations.”

Journalists ‘cannot breathe’ in Turkey

REPORT

Journalists ‘cannot breathe’ in Turkey

According to a report published by Expression Interrupted, 109 journalists stood trial in May and June, four of whom were sentenced to a total of 9 years, 8 months in prison. Police violence against journalists increased, with 5 journalists physically attacked.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry condemns violence against journalists from Turkey

Germany’s Foreign Ministry condemns violence against journalists from Turkey

Speaking to DW about the escalating threats, harassment and attacks against the journalists from Turkey living in Germany, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany has condemned all types of violence targeting journalists.