"There are so many injustices in our country that I hesitate to make statements on such specific days. On the other hand, it is easier to shine a light on injustices, unlawfulness and unfairness through known examples. This is why I see the 2000 days imprisonment as a symbol of the greater injustice in [...]
The challenges facing quality and independent journalism in Turkey have never been greater. The increased political pressure on the free press, a growing number of physical and judicial attacks on journalists, censorship, and new and repressive legislation to restrict access to digital media platforms paint a bleak future for the media sector. With pro-government outlets [...]
Turkey’s press freedom crisis is being compounded by increasing digital censorship, a group of international press freedom, journalism and human rights groups said following a joint mission to the country this week. The government has announced plans to table a “disinformation” law that is likely to result in the further criminalization of freedom of expression [...]
A coalition of international press freedom and journalist groups will carry out a three-day mission to Turkey this week to investigate serious, continued threats to independent journalism in the country. From October 6 to 8, mission delegates will meet in Ankara and Istanbul, as well as online, with editors, journalists, local civil society groups, Turkish [...]
IPI global network representatives monitored the hearings of journalists Deniz Yücel and Ahmet Sever as well as three former Zaman journalists in three separate trials on September 9 at Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul. Below are the observations from IPI representatives on the September 9 hearings. September 9, 2021 Deniz Yücel and Ahmet Sever September 9, [...]
The International Press Institute (IPI) today expressed concern over the most recent discussions on a new bill that would criminalize the spreading of “fake news”. Initial details about the bill raise serious alarm about a further step forward in Turkey’s efforts to control media and information online. On August 18, 2021, Hüseyin Yayman, an MP [...]
The IPI global network today condemned sanctions imposed by Turkey’s Radio and Television High Council (RTÜK) on six television channels – KRT, Fox TV, Haber Türk, Halk TV, TELE 1 and TR 35 – in response to the channels’ coverage of the most recent wildfires in southwestern Turkey. The sanctions were imposed during a meeting [...]
The IPI global network today condemned the physical assaults against several journalists in Istanbul covering protests against the murder of a Kurdish family. IPI calls on the Turkish authorities to hold those responsible to account and ensure journalist safety. On July 31, a group of assailants, using iron rods, attacked reporters Derya Saadet and Ceylan [...]
23 July 2021 The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and undersigned partner organisations are concerned about and condemn recent statements by Turkish President Erdoğan and other government officials pertaining to the introduction of new regulation of so-called fake news and “foreign-funded” news in the country. Officials’ targeting several critical and independent media outlets for securing [...]
The International Press Institute (IPI) condemned the Turkish police violence against journalists covering the protests yesterday, July 20, in Istanbul and İzmir, and called for an immediate end to the use of excessive force. According to local reports, at least 20 reporters and photojournalists were beaten by the police and injured by rubber bullets. Local [...]