#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, [...]

Turkey Free Expression Trial Monitoring Report: May 2019

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 [...]

IPI urges Turkey to protect media freedom ahead of mayoral re-vote

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 [...]

Turkey releases journalist Kadri Gürsel on probation

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 [...]

IPI urges Turkey to immediately release Kadri Gürsel on probation

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 [...]

IPI condemns string of physical attacks on Turkish journalists

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 [...]

IPI condemns jail terms for Özgür Gündem editors and journalists

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 [...]

International groups condemn attacks against journalists

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 [...]

Young Turkish journalists get ready for comeback

By EMRE KIZILKAYA / New network aims to empower Turkey’s journalism graduates