Since 2018, the International Press Institute (IPI) has been observing trials of journalists in Turkey to monitor violations of the rule of law and fair trial guarantees. Under Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on media freedom, which began following the July 2016 coup attempt, scores of journalists have been subjected to egregious rights violations. Many have been [...]
The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today urged Turkish authorities to respect journalists’ rights and ensure journalists’ safety in the run-up to the mayoral re-election in Istanbul on June 23. During nationwide local elections on March 31, opposition CHP candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu was [...]
The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editor, media executives and journalists, welcomed the release of IPI Executive Board member and Turkey National Committee Chair Kadri Gürsel from prison in Turkey. Gürsel was briefly jailed yesterday after reporting to the authorities to serve out the remainder of a two-and-a-half year prison sentence handed [...]
The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editor, media executives and journalists, has urged Turkey to ensure the immediate release of eminent journalist and IPI Executive Board member Kadri Gürsel on probation. Gürsel reported to prison today in Istanbul and is awaiting his release on probation. A former Cumhuriyet columnist, Gürsel was arrested [...]
The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Turkish authorities to initiate an immediate investigation into a string of recent physical attacks that have targeted five journalists in the last 20 days and bring the perpetrators to justice. On May 10, journalist Yavuz Selim Demirağ, a regular contributor for Yeniçağ newspaper, was attacked outside his home [...]
On May 21, seven editors and columnists for the now-shuttered pro-Kurdish newspaper Özgür Gündem were sentenced to jail terms varying from three years, nine months to 15 months on charges of “spreading terrorist propaganda”. The International Press Institute (IPI) is appalled at the verdict and condemns the mass targeting of Özgür Gündem journalists and editors-in-chief [...]
The International Press Institute (IPI) along with 20 other press freedom and freedom of expression organizations sent today a joint letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, calling for justice following the recent physical attacks against two journalists. On May 10, journalist Yavuz Selim Demirağ, a regular contributor for the newspaper Yeniçağ, was attacked outside his home [...]
By EMRE KIZILKAYA / New network aims to empower Turkey’s journalism graduates
On the eve of World Press Freedom Day 2019, Turkey’s Constitutional Court took the staggering decision to rule, after over two years, that the arbitrary arrest and detention of four former journalists with the secular newspaper Cumhuriyet did not violate their rights to liberty and free expression. After a session on May 2, the Court [...]
With 139 journalists in prison, many more being tried on charges ranging from terrorism to aiding terrorist organizations and some 121 media organizations shut down since July 2016, press freedom in Turkey has been severely undermined by the government. Despite these challenges that are many independent journalists in the country trying to uphold press freedom. [...]