Analysis: Turkish Constitutional Court’s inconsistent stance on press freedom
By HÜRREM SÖNMEZ / Recent contradictory decisions show court’s approach not always in favour of journalists’ rights
Turkey Free Expression Trial Monitoring Report – July 2019
The International Press Institute (IPI), in cooperation with the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), today published a new report analysing the extent to which Turkish courts protect the fundamental rights of journalists and others exercising their right to free expression. The July 2019 Turkey Free Expression Trial Monitoring Report (the Report), written by IPI [...]
New Istanbul mayor offers support for press freedom and quality journalism
The newly elected mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, lamented the arrests and prosecution of journalists in Turkey yesterday during a meeting with the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom. İmamoğlu met with an IPI delegation comprising IPI Turkey National Committee Chair Kadri Gürsel, Committee [...]
Turkey should pass judicial reform before parliamentary recess
The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on Turkey to quickly pass a promised judicial reform package that would see journalists who were jailed as part of the Cumhuriyet trial freed pending further appeal. Turkish lawmakers are currently considering ending a rule that bars certain defendants convicted in free-speech-related cases with sentences of less than five [...]
IPI launches study on future of quality journalism in Turkey
The International Press Institute (IPI) today launched a study on the future of quality journalism in Turkey at the Journalists’ Union of Turkey’s (TGS) Press Academy in Istanbul. The study, entitled “‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’: How to Prepare Turkey’s Journalists for a Freer Era”, is based on more than 100 interviews with journalism [...]
IPI joins international press freedom groups to condemn SETA report
The International Press Institute (IPI) and 20 other human rights and freedom of expression organisations condemn a Turkish pro-government think-tank’s report that accuses leading international media of being biased against the government and singles out their correspondents for attack. The organisations regard the report as a dangerous escalation in the harassment of journalists. Published on [...]
IPI Report Launch in Turkey: “It Won’t Always Be Like This”
The International Press Institute (IPI) will announce the results of its study on the future of quality journalism in Turkey at the Journalists’ Union of Turkey’s (TGS) Press Academy in Istanbul on July 16 at 11 a.m. The study, entitled “‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’: How to Prepare Turkey’s Journalists for a Freer Era”, [...]
Turkey’s Constitutional Court gives contradictory decisions on Cumhuriyet journalists’ applications
Turkey’s Constitutional Court published yesterday a detailed ruling on the individual applications of journalists involved in the Cumhuriyet trial, who were sentenced to prison terms varying from two to eight years after the final hearing on April 25, 2018. The court, in its ruling on May 2, 2019, found no evidence of fundamental rights violations [...]
#MemberInterview: Kadri Gürsel on Istanbul’s mayoral re-election on June 23
The International Press Institute (IPI) talked with IPI Executive Board member and Turkey National Committee chair Kadri Gürsel following the re-run of Istanbul’s mayoral election on June 23, which was won by opposition candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu – despite the AKP party’s near complete control over traditional media in Turkey. Gürsel was previously detained for 11 [...]
MEP Rebecca Harms leaves legacy of defending rights in Turkey
Rebecca Harms is a German Green Party politician and a member of the European Parliament who has been particularly active in promoting media freedom in Turkey through her work with the Parliament’s Turkey Support Forum. Harms, who is now stepping down as an MEP, has personally observed a number of elections and journalist trials in Turkey, [...]