content tagged with Reporters Without Borders

RSF: Erdoğan’s 10 years of presidency marked by legal harassment, censorship against journalists

RSF: Erdoğan’s 10 years of presidency marked by legal harassment, censorship against journalists

Seventy-seven journalists have been convicted of “insulting the president” since Erdoğan took office in August 2024.

RSF: Turkey’s new 'espionage bill' threatens media supported by international funds

RSF: Turkey’s new 'espionage bill' threatens media supported by international funds

The government is poised to amend the anti-espionage law to prosecute those who are identified as “agents of influence.”

Journalists from earthquake-affected region meet at Workshop BİA

RIGTHS-BASED JOURNALISM DURING ELECTION PERIODS:

Journalists from earthquake-affected region meet at Workshop BİA

Methods for producing 'rights-based journalism' and prioritizing human rights in news coverage during elections was discussed in the workshops held with the cooperation of IPS Communication Foundation/bianet, Reporters Without Borders and Oslo Metropolitan University.

19 December 2023

Journalism groups condemn detention of five journalists in house raids

Journalism groups condemn detention of five journalists in house raids

"This premeditated punishment policy needs to stop. The detained journalists should be released immediately, and the grounds for their detentions should be made public," said a union representative.

RSF urges Turkey to stop expelling Syrian journalists

RSF urges Turkey to stop expelling Syrian journalists

While the formal reason for detentions and deportations is usually expired papers, the underlying reason is a shift in Turkey's policies towards Syria, says the group.

RSF representative raises concerns over media freedom in Turkey following Erdoğan's re-election

RSF representative raises concerns over media freedom in Turkey following Erdoğan's re-election

Önderoğlu highlighted that the elections in Turkey took place in an unfair media environment and called on the president to restore press freedom in the country in his new term.

29 May 2023 Hikmet Adal

RSF denounces censorship of earthquake coverage in Turkey

RSF denounces censorship of earthquake coverage in Turkey

"While the country needs transparency more than ever before, these decisions to block access to reports once again serve the purpose of preventing criticism against the government's post-earthquake practices," the RSF representative in Turkey has said.

Türkiye climbs on RSF Press Freedom Index while dropping in points

Türkiye climbs on RSF Press Freedom Index while dropping in points

The country holds 149th place and currently keeps 23 journalists in jail.

14 December 2022

RSF denounces politicians' threats against journalists in Türkiye

RSF denounces politicians' threats against journalists in Türkiye

"Judicial impunity and political polarisation are fuelling concern about a new wave of violence against journalists in the run-up to the June 2023 elections," the group said.

Armed attack on NGO offices in Diyarbakır

Armed attack on NGO offices in Diyarbakır

A masked person fired two shots at a building where the offices of several NGOs, including a Kurdish journalism group backed by the RSF, are located.

RSF urges Turkey to end police violence against journalists

RSF urges Turkey to end police violence against journalists

The organization has called on the Interior Ministry to respect journalists covering demonstrations.

Only 31 countries rank worse than Turkey in press freedom

Only 31 countries rank worse than Turkey in press freedom

Of the 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2022 World Press Freedom Index, Turkey has ranked 149th.

Reporters Without Borders: Turkey must act quickly to protect journalists

Reporters Without Borders: Turkey must act quickly to protect journalists

RSF Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu says that “Güngör Arslan’s murder comes as no surprise to anyone because he constantly received threatening messages without eliciting any reaction from the authorities”.

Erdoğan once again on RSF’s list of ‘Press Freedom Predators’

Erdoğan once again on RSF’s list of ‘Press Freedom Predators’

The Reporters Without Borders has once again ranked President and ruling AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on its list of “Press Freedom Predators”, defining “critical journalists” as his "favorite targets”.

‘Turkey uses press cards to put pressure on journalists’

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS

‘Turkey uses press cards to put pressure on journalists’

“We ask the government to reinstate an autonomous journalistic entity in order to put an end to biased practices that penalise critical journalists,” says RSF Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu.

International reactions to police violence against photojournalist during Pride March

International reactions to police violence against photojournalist during Pride March

Police officers violently detained AFP photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, who was heard saying "I can't breathe" as officers kneeled on him.

‘Turkey uses terrorism legislation to gag, jail journalists’

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS

‘Turkey uses terrorism legislation to gag, jail journalists’

Documenting 12 cases of journalists currently prosecuted in Turkey under terrorism legislation, the RSF says, “Reporters who cover public interest stories in Turkey increasingly risk imprisonment.”

‘Pressure on journalists was a harbinger of current social crisis’

‘Pressure on journalists was a harbinger of current social crisis’

RSF Representative to Turkey Önderoğlu: “Though the number of arrested journalists has been on the decrease in Turkey in the last 2 years, the practices that put their minds behind bars don’t go unnoticed. Censorship and bans are everywhere…”

20 April 2021 Hikmet Adal

Turkey ranks 153rd in RSF Press Freedom Index

Turkey ranks 153rd in RSF Press Freedom Index

Even if Turkey is no longer the world's biggest jailer of journalists, the government continued to suppress critical journalism through regulatory bodies and judicial action, says the RSF.

‘Turkey uses terrorism law to intimidate, silence journalists’

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS

‘Turkey uses terrorism law to intimidate, silence journalists’

In an article titled “Journalists threatened with imprisonment under Turkey’s terrorism law”, the RSF has referred to several journalists including Melis Alphan, Canan Coşkun, Sibel Hürtaş and Erol Önderoğlu, who will appear in court this week.

RSF denounces killing of radio presenter Özsu

RSF denounces killing of radio presenter Özsu

Making a statement after radio presenter Hazım Özsu was killed in Bursa, Reporters Without Borders has said, “The RSF condemns this heinous murder perpetrated in a country where impunity is the rule.”

'Attacks on journalists are a symbol of impunity'

'Attacks on journalists are a symbol of impunity'

We have spoken with representatives of journalism organizations after recent attacks against journalists.

21 January 2021 Hikmet Adal

Press freedom in Turkey: At least 347 news articles censored in 3 months

NEW SOCIAL MEDIA LAW IN EFFECT

Press freedom in Turkey: At least 347 news articles censored in 3 months

After the new social media law entered into force yesterday, the RSF has expressed concerns about the “use of the Internet to censor outspoken journalists in Turkey, where new legislation gives the government much more control over social media platforms.”

Turkey Ranks 154th in RSF Press Freedom Index

Turkey Ranks 154th in RSF Press Freedom Index

Censorship of websites and social media in the country "has reached unprecedented levels," says the RSF.

RSF, 13 Journalists File a Criminal Complaint About Police Violence in France

RSF, 13 Journalists File a Criminal Complaint About Police Violence in France

Reporters Without Borders and 13 journalists have filed a criminal complaint about the police violence against journalists covering “yellow vests” protests in France. Anadolu Agency reporter Mustafa Yalçın was also injured during the protests.

24 December 2019

Turkey Ranks 157th in Freedom of Press

Turkey Ranks 157th in Freedom of Press

In 2018 World Press Freedom Index announced by Reporters Without Borders, Turkey has ranked the 157th among 180 countries. The organization has commented, “The witch hunt has come to a head since July 2016.”

RSF Condemns News Targeting Journalists: “A Government-Orchestrated Campaign”

RSF Condemns News Targeting Journalists: “A Government-Orchestrated Campaign”

Reporters Without Borders Head of Eastern Europe & Central Asia desk Bihr made a statement on news articles targeting journalists, saying “These insane claims would be laughable if they did not put the targeted journalists in grave danger”.

RWB: Constitutional Court must Release Dündar and Gül

RWB: Constitutional Court must Release Dündar and Gül

Reporters Without Borders has called on the Constitutional Court to release Can Dündar and Erdem Gül who are under arrest due to their report on the trucks of the Turkish National Security Organization for a month.

25 December 2015

RSF Rebuts President Erdogan's Virulent Criticism

RSF Rebuts President Erdogan's Virulent Criticism

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lambasted the 2014 Reporters Without Borders round-up of abuses against journalists, accusing the Paris-based NGO of criticizing his country as part of a political “campaign” that it is said to be orchestrating against him.

23 December 2014

bianet Receives Press Freedom Award From RSF Austria

bianet Receives Press Freedom Award From RSF Austria

Reporters Without Border (RSF) Austria awarded bianet with its Press Freedom Awards – A Signal for Europe. RSF Austria President Dr. Moehring said they have decided to give out this year’s award to bianet in order to emphasize on the jailed journalists in Turkey.

9 December 2013

"Nişanyan's Sentence Contradicts Secularism"

REPORTER WITHOUT BORDERS

"Nişanyan's Sentence Contradicts Secularism"

Reporters Without Borders condemned Sevan Nişanyan’s conviction to 13.5 months of prison for insulting Prophet Mohammed and urged a dismissal in the appeals trial.

RSF Urges Government Include Press Freedom in Kurdish Initiative

RSF Urges Government Include Press Freedom in Kurdish Initiative

Reporters without Borders has called on Turkey to put an end to censorship of pro-Kurdish media.

3 September 2009

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