freedom of expression

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Journalists Müyesser Yıldız, İsmail Dükel face up to 10 years in prison

Journalists Müyesser Yıldız, İsmail Dükel face up to 10 years in prison

Arrested journalist Yıldız and TELE 1 Ankara Representative Dükel have been indicted. Together with arrested Sergeant Baran, they are charged with “disclosing information that needs to remain confidential for the security or benefit of the state.”

24 September 2020

Journalist Aziz Oruç not released

Journalist Aziz Oruç not released

Arrested pending trial for almost 10 months, journalist Aziz Oruç had his second hearing today. The jailed journalist has not been released in today’s hearing, either. His next hearing will be held on November 9, 2020.

21 September 2020

Journalists were not allowed to take notes in the hearing

Journalists were not allowed to take notes in the hearing

Announcing its opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor’s office has demanded that journalist İdris Sayılğan be penalized on charge of “repeated terror propaganda” over his Facebook posts. He previously served 1,137 days behind bars.

16 September 2020

Second ruling of right violation for the access block to sendika.org news website

Second ruling of right violation for the access block to sendika.org news website

Combining 17 individual applications about the issue, the Constitutional Court has once again concluded that 62 access blocks imposed on sendika.org news website and successive websites have violated freedom of expression and press.

15 September 2020

Warrant against musician Ferhat Tunç

Warrant against musician Ferhat Tunç

Germany has rejected Turkey’s request for “mutual judicial assistance” to take testimony of Ferhat Tunç on the ground that it is against freedom of expression. Standing trial for “insulting the President”, Tunç now faces a warrant for his detention in Turkey.

15 September 2020

ECtHR ruling on writer Ragıp Zarakolu

ECtHR ruling on writer Ragıp Zarakolu

The ECtHR has concluded that the right to liberty and security and freedom of expression of writer Ragıp Zarakolu have been violated. The writer has been standing trial as part of Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) İstanbul Main Case.

15 September 2020 Ayça Söylemez

36 thousand people investigated for ‘insulting the president’ in a year

36 thousand people investigated for ‘insulting the president’ in a year

According to the justice statistics of the Justice Ministry, 12 thousand 298 people stood trial and 3 thousand 831 people were penalized in 2019 on the grounds that they insulted President and ruling AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

14 September 2020

Arrested for revealing the identity of an intelligence officer, 3 journalists released

Arrested for revealing the identity of an intelligence officer, 3 journalists released

Shortly after the court ruled for their release on probation considering the time they had already spent behind bars, journalists Barış Pehlivan, Hülya Kılınç and Murat Ağırel have been released.

10 September 2020

‘While justice was "on vacation”, violence took center stage’

PRESS IN ARREST REPORT

‘While justice was "on vacation”, violence took center stage’

From the report of Press in Arrest: “Trials were suspended in August due to the judiciary recess; however, attempts to bring journalists into line continued under violent forms. At least 15 journalists were subjected to psychological and physical violence.”

7 September 2020

‘There cannot be democracy without press freedom’

5-DAY BLACKOUT ON TELE 1

‘There cannot be democracy without press freedom’

Journalism organizations denounce the five-day blackout imposed on TELE 1: “In our eyes, RTÜK is a political structure that has cut its ties with the institutionalization of a democratic society. There is no other solution than advising our colleagues to be careful.”

3 September 2020 Hikmet Adal

Arrested journalist Rawin Sterk released in his first hearing

Arrested journalist Rawin Sterk released in his first hearing

Detained while reporting on refugees in Edirne and arrested shortly afterwards, Rûdaw reporter Rawin Sterk has been released in his first hearing.

2 September 2020 Hikmet Adal

Erdoğan says ‘Turkey makes progress in freedom of expression,’ but how true is it?

Erdoğan says ‘Turkey makes progress in freedom of expression,’ but how true is it?

In the legal year opening ceremony, President Erdoğan said, “We have ensured that the right to criticize and give news is based on a stronger ground in the legislation.” But what do BİA Media Monitoring Reports tell us about these remarks?

2 September 2020

Press freedom in Turkey: ‘Journalists could not breathe in August, either’

Press freedom in Turkey: ‘Journalists could not breathe in August, either’

Main opposition CHP former MP Barış Yarkadaş has released his “Violations of Rights in the Media Report” for August. The report shows that two journalists were arrested, two journalists were detained and four journalists stood trial last month.

1 September 2020

‘8 journalists were sentenced to prison in the first 7 months of 2020’

PRESS IN ARREST REPORT

‘8 journalists were sentenced to prison in the first 7 months of 2020’

According to the “7-Month Press Freedom Report” prepared by the Press in Arrest, there are at least 65 journalists behind bars in Turkey as convicts or arrestees. At least 251 journalists also stand trial in or outside prison, or in absentia.

Two journalists from Turkey detained in Athens

Two journalists from Turkey detained in Athens

Capturing police violence against a person in Athens, journalists Çağdaş Kaplan and Berçem Mordeniz have been battered and taken into custody.

Violations of rights in Turkey's media: Two journalists stood trial a day in July

Violations of rights in Turkey's media: Two journalists stood trial a day in July

Main opposition CHP former MP Yarkadaş has released his “Violations of Rights in the Media Report” for July. Referring to Sacrifice Feast, he has said, “This feast is a bit bittersweet for journalists because dozens of their colleagues are in prison.”

‘Journalist should not question! We arrest! We close down!’

BİA MEDIA MONITORING / APRIL-MAY-JUNE 2020

‘Journalist should not question! We arrest! We close down!’

In the second quarter of 2020, at least two journalists were arrested, two journalists were physically assaulted and seven journalists were threatened. The RTÜK fined the TVs 5 million 906 thousand 326 lira and radios 25 thousand 35 lira in total.

30 July 2020 Erol Önderoğlu,Sinem Aydınlı,İdil Aydınoğlu

Application to Constitutional Court over failure to implement ECtHR ruling on Demirtaş

Application to Constitutional Court over failure to implement ECtHR ruling on Demirtaş

The ECtHR previously concluded that the conviction of imprisoned former HDP Co-Chair Demirtaş over a speech violated his rights. As the local court rejected his attorneys’ request for retrial, an individual application has been made to Constitutional Court.

Journalist Mehmet Yılmaz acquitted of defaming former PM Yıldırım

Journalist Mehmet Yılmaz acquitted of defaming former PM Yıldırım

The court has acquitted the columnist after the AKP's Binali Yıldırm withdrew his complaint.

3 journalists arrested, 10 journalists released in Turkey in June

PRESS IN ARREST REPORT

3 journalists arrested, 10 journalists released in Turkey in June

According to June 2020 Press Freedom Report of the Press in Arrest, at least 61 journalists have been summoned to depose, taken into custody or faced a criminal complaint since March 17. Lawsuits have been brought against 18 journalists.

‘Saying only “son-in-law” is apparently a crime now’

‘Saying only “son-in-law” is apparently a crime now’

Having used only the word “son-in-law” without uttering any names or titles in his speech, lawyer and BJK Council Board member Ali Rıza Dizdar now faces an investigation on charge of insult.

29 June 2020 Ayça Söylemez

Rights Defender Eren Keskin Deposed over Her Tweets from Five Years Ago

Rights Defender Eren Keskin Deposed over Her Tweets from Five Years Ago

Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair lawyer Eren Keskin has spoken to bianet: “We all live like captives in a sense.”

12 June 2020 Evrim Kepenek

Multiple Channels, Single Voice

PENNED BY SERCAN ENGEREK

Multiple Channels, Single Voice

Press is the life savior for democracy, but - in the most innocent terms possible - some need to reconsider the notion of democracy independently from the positions they hold.

6 June 2020 Sercan Engerek

Cumhuriyet Journalists Summoned to Depose

Cumhuriyet Journalists Summoned to Depose

Facing a terror investigation due to the news regarding the house of Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, journalists Hazal Ocak, Vedat Arık, Olcay Büyüktaş and İpek Özbey from daily Cumhuriyet have been summoned to depose.

Armed Attack Against Local Newspaper in Kocaeli

Armed Attack Against Local Newspaper in Kocaeli

Editor-in-Chief of Kocaeli Ses Newspaper İsmet Çiğit has said, “The police are examining the camera footage. As we are making oppositional news, we are getting on the nerves of some people a lot, which makes us a target for these groups.”

20 April 2020 Hikmet Adal

Access Block on Independent Turkish

Access Block on Independent Turkish

An access block has been imposed on the Independent Turkish news website as per the administrative measure implemented by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK).

International Press Institute Documents Media Freedom Violations During Pandemic

International Press Institute Documents Media Freedom Violations During Pandemic

Noting that “the free flow of news and information is more essential than ever amid pandemic,” the IPI is documenting media freedom violations by region. While six violations were reported from Turkey in March, there have been two violations in April so far.

Violations of Rights in Turkey in March: ‘Judicial Pressure Spreads Like Virus’

COMMENTARY ON REPORT IN VIDEO-NEWS

Violations of Rights in Turkey in March: ‘Judicial Pressure Spreads Like Virus’

From the March 2020 report of the Initiative for Freedom of Expression, İHD and TİHV: “Things going wrong during the fight against coronavirus and the donation campaign of the President have led to detainments, arrests and convictions.”

President Erdoğan: Curfew to be Imposed This Weekend as Well

President Erdoğan: Curfew to be Imposed This Weekend as Well

Following his cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan has said that some media outlets “started a war” against their own country with their news and columnists: “Our country will hopefully get rid of not only coronavirus, but also these media and politics viruses.”

Lawsuit Against Journalist Temizkan Over a Social Media Post from 6 Years Ago

Lawsuit Against Journalist Temizkan Over a Social Media Post from 6 Years Ago

Charged with “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” over a social media post from six years ago, journalist Sabiha Temizkan will have her first hearing on June 25, 2020.

‘It is Not a Crime to Say “We Don’t Pay”’

‘It is Not a Crime to Say “We Don’t Pay”’

In the wake of the detention of a law apprentice over his “We don’t pay” tweets, “We Don’t Pay” (Ödemiyoruz) Movement has released a statement and noted that people’s expression of their wish to not pay their debts does not constitute a crime.

Law Apprentice to be Held in Custody for 3 Days Over ‘We Don’t Pay’ Tweets

Law Apprentice to be Held in Custody for 3 Days Over ‘We Don’t Pay’ Tweets

Taken into custody over his tweets such as “Capitalism is more dangerous than corona. We don’t pay,” law apprentice Yağız Timoçin will be held in custody until Saturday evening. Having a chronic asthma, Timoçin is in Covid-19 risk group.

10 April 2020 Ayça Söylemez