{"id":42543,"date":"2025-02-06T13:36:54","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T11:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/?p=42543"},"modified":"2025-02-06T13:36:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T11:36:54","slug":"ipi-and-partner-organizations-call-for-action-as-press-freedom-violations-surge-in-turkey-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/ipi-and-partner-organizations-call-for-action-as-press-freedom-violations-surge-in-turkey-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"IPI and partner organizations call for action as press freedom violations surge in Turkey in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The International Press Institute (IPI), together with undersigned<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> press freedom, freedom of expression, human rights, and journalists\u2019 organizations, and media outlets, expresses serious concern over the recent escalation of press freedom violations in Turkey, marking a troubling star<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">t to the new year. The frequent use of arbitrary arrests, detentions, judicial control measures, and convictions poses an existential threat to independent media, democratic discourse, and fundamental human rights in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turkey must ensure that its practices align with international standards for the protection of freedom of expression and press freedom, as well as with the protections enshrined in its own constitution, in order to safeguard the foundations of democracy and human rights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In January 2025 alone, at least nine journalists were arrested, six were sentenced to prison, five were detained, 23 faced investigations and one encountered police obstruction. Here is a timeline of a concerning acceleration of press freedom violations over the last month (the following is not an exhaustive list):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 2, authorities launched an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mlsaturkey.com\/en\/yolsuzluklari-ifsa-eden-gazeteci-aslihan-gencay-hakkinda-bir-sorusturma-daha\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">investigation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against journalist <\/span><b>Asl\u0131han Gen\u00e7ay <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for her reporting on corruption in Hatay. They blocked access to her article and charged her with multiple offenses, including violations of the disinformation law\u2014an apparent attempt to suppress investigative journalism.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 7, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office launched an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birgun.net\/haber\/kobani-davasini-takip-eden-gazeteciler-hakkinda-sorusturma-baslatildi-589087\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">investigation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against <\/span><b>21 journalists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who covered the Kobani trial&#8217;s final hearing. The journalists face potential fines for alleged unauthorized photography\u2014a move that effectively criminalizes routine court reporting.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 17, a coordinated crackdown led to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.evrensel.net\/haber\/540397\/6-gazeteci-tutuklandi\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">detention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of <\/span><b>six journalists &#8211; Reyhan Hac\u0131o\u011flu, Necla Demir, Rahime Karvar, Vedat \u00d6r\u00fc\u00e7, Velat Ekin and Ahmet G\u00fcne\u015f<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; across multiple cities. They were denied basic legal rights, including access to legal representation, and were subsequently <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birgun.net\/haber\/6-gazeteci-ifadeleri-alinmadan-tutuklandi-592486\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arrested<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on January 20 without their statements being recorded. The authorities&#8217; only justification appears to be their legitimate journalistic activities. (Note: Ahmet G\u00fcne\u015f was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bianet.org\/haber\/gazeteci-ahmet-gunes-tahliye-edildi-304271#google_vignette\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">released<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on February 4.)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 21, Rudaw TV correspondent <\/span><b>Rawin Sterk Y\u0131ld\u0131z<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> faced <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazetepencere.com\/yasam\/sishanede-gozalti-ani-gazeteci-ve-cocugu-mudahalenin-ortasinda-kaldi-648443h\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">police interference<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while documenting a detention in Istanbul&#8217;s Beyo\u011flu district. Despite clearly identifying himself as a journalist, he was prevented from documenting the public incident.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 23, a troubling verdict resulted in five journalists &#8211;<\/span><b> Yakup \u00c7etin, Ahmet Memi\u015f, Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, \u00dcnal Tan\u0131k, Yetkin Y\u0131ld\u0131z, G\u00f6k\u00e7e F\u0131rat \u00c7ulhao\u011flu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; receiving <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cpj-org.cdn.ampproject.org\/c\/s\/cpj.org\/2025\/01\/5-turkish-journalists-sentenced-to-prison-on-coup-related-charges-in-retrial\/amp\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">harsh sentences<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014ranging from 25 months to over six years <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mlsaturkey.com\/tr\/yeniden-yargilamada-alti-gazeteciye-hapis-cezasi-verildi\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in prison<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014in a terrorism-related case, despite the absence of credible evidence.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 24, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/artigercek.com\/guncel\/gazeteci-eylem-babayigit-tutuklandi-331884h\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arrest<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of journalist <\/span><b>Eylem Babayi\u011fit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> once again demonstrated the arbitrary use of &#8220;membership of an organization&#8221; charges.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 28, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/turkce\/articles\/c0qw71wwxxno\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">detention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of journalists <\/span><b>Bar\u0131\u015f Pehlivan, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> following their broadcast of a recorded phone conversation with an expert witness raises concerns about limitations on the coverage of matters of public interest. The court <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazeteduvar.com.tr\/seda-selek-ve-serhan-asker-serbest-birakildi-haber-1753095\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">released<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Seda Selek and Serhan Asker under judicial control measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 28, the launch of an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/t24.com.tr\/haber\/gazeteci-sirin-payzin-hakkinda-sorusturma-baslatildi,1213845\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">investigation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> into T24 columnist <\/span><b>\u015eirin Payz\u0131n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for alleged &#8220;terror propaganda&#8221; over social media posts indicates a concerning expansion of surveillance and criminalization of online expression.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 28, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.evrensel.net\/haber\/541163\/siirt-belediye-es-baskani-sofya-alagasa-6-yil-3-ay-hapis-cezasi\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">conviction<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of journalist <\/span><b>Safiye Alaga\u015f<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, former news editor for the pro-Kurdish JINNEWS, resulted in a six years and three months <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cpj.org\/2025\/01\/kurdish-journalist-sentenced-to-6-years-3-months-on-terrorism-charges-in-turkey\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prison sentence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Alaga\u015f has already <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/freeturkeyjournalists.ipi.media\/turkey-trial-blog-jinnews-news-director-released-in-her-first-hearing-after-one-year-in-pre-trial-detention\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a year in pretrial detention and is currently free while awaiting appeal.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 29, Halk TV editor-in-chief <\/span><b>Suat Tokta\u015f<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, program coordinator <\/span><b>K\u00fcr\u015fad O\u011fuz<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and journalist <\/span><b>Bar\u0131\u015f Pehlivan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medyascope.tv\/2025\/01\/29\/suat-toktas-tutuklandi-baris-pehlivan-ve-kursad-oguz-serbest-birakildi\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">detained<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for broadcasting a recorded phone conversation with an expert witness. While Pehlivan and O\u011fuz were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazeteduvar.com.tr\/suat-toktas-kursad-oguz-ve-baris-pehlivan-hakkinda-tutuklama-talebi-haber-1753197\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">released<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under judicial control measures, Tokta\u015f was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.duvarenglish.com\/turkey-arrests-editor-in-chief-of-one-of-biggest-opposition-broadcaster-news-65610#google_vignette\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arrested<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014authorities cited flight risk and potential evidence tampering, demonstrating a concerning use of arbitrary detention criteria. Halk TV, one of Turkey&#8217;s largest private TV channels, is recognized for its critical programming.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Broadcast regulator&#8217;s decisions threaten press freedom<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turkey&#8217;s broadcast regulator RT\u00dcK has demonstrated a concerning pattern of targeting critical media outlets. Just before the journalists&#8217; detention over broadcasting a recorded phone conversation, the RT\u00dcK Chair <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazeteduvar.com.tr\/rtuk-baskani-sahinden-halk-tvye-geregi-yapilacak-haber-1752869\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">warned<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of potential consequences for media outlets and journalists regarding the same broadcast\u2014effectively signaling the impending crackdown. In his statement, he criticized Halk TV for recording and broadcasting a phone conversation with an expert witness without permission and allegedly attempting to influence ongoing legal proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This incident reflects a broader pattern of regulatory pressure on critical media. In 2024, RT\u00dcK <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazeteduvar.com.tr\/ilhan-tasci-rtukun-2024-karnesini-paylasti-elestirel-yayincilari-resmen-silkeledi-haber-1745566\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">imposed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 24 broadcast bans resulting in fines totaling 81.5 million Turkish lira (approximately \u20ac2.2 million or $2.3 million), with the majority targeting media critical of the government.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The systematic use of regulatory powers to penalize critical media outlets raises serious concerns about the independence of broadcast regulation and its impact on media pluralism in Turkey.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent example, following the devastating <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c4g375x0zpwo.amp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hotel fire<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Bolu that erupted in the early morning hours of January 20, 2025, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/turkce\/articles\/c5y6p433665o.amp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">claiming<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 78 lives, the RT\u00dcK Chair <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/freeturkeyjournalists.ipi.media\/turkey-ipi-condemns-media-coverage-restrictions-following-bolu-hotel-fire\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">directed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> media outlets to report solely on information from official sources. Shortly after this directive, the Bolu 2nd Criminal Court of Peace <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/rtukkurumsal\/status\/1881683594051228021\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">imposed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a broadcasting ban on coverage of the disaster at the request of the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Judicial control measures: a new tool for censorship<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there appears to be a decrease in the number of journalists in prison, this masks a troubling shift toward using <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dwturkce1.com\/tr\/rsf-t%C3%BCrkiyede-adli-kontrol-h%C4%B1zla-yayg%C4%B1nla%C5%9F%C4%B1yor-bas%C4%B1n-%C3%B6zg%C3%BCrl%C3%BC%C4%9F%C3%BC-de-yok\/a-71030436?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY6_2VYMQlH15Ymczln8_Xhqp62he5TC8XU9FKqukBhMzVB54Jq_Xnx2i4_aem_1IKEmCl-yn_sztFXcT6EbQ\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">judicial control measures<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014such as travel bans, regular check-ins at police stations, and house arrest\u2014as alternative means of restricting press freedom. This trend represents an equally antidemocratic practice aimed at controlling journalists&#8217; freedom of movement and expression. The systematic implementation of these measures, combined with increasing online censorship, appears to be replacing traditional detention as a method of silencing independent journalism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent cases exemplify this pattern. While journalists are released under judicial control measures shortly after being detained, the arbitrary imposition of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/freeturkeyjournalists.ipi.media\/turkey-journalist-nevsin-mengu-faces-judicial-harassment-and-coordinated-online-smear-campaign-over-interview\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel bans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.duvarenglish.com\/court-puts-renowned-journalist-under-house-arrest-for-allegedly-criticizing-turkish-armys-actions-in-syria-news-65425#google_vignette\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">house arrests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other restrictions continues to impede their ability to perform their professional duties effectively. These measures, originally intended as exceptional remedies to ensure judicial proceedings, are increasingly being weaponized to create a chilling effect on press freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In light of these egregious violations of press freedom in Turkey, we urge the Turkish authorities to uphold the principles of justice, release the journalists subjected to arbitrary arrests and detentions, and safeguard the vital role of journalism in fostering debate on matters of public interest and democracy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This statement was produced by IPI as part of the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfrr.eu\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR)<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries, funded by the European Commission.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b>Signed:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>International Press Institute (IPI)<br \/>\nAssociation of European Journalists (International)<br \/>\nAssociation of European Journalists in Belgium (AEJ Belgium)<br \/>\nAssociation of European Journalists in Bulgaria (AEJ Bulgaria)<br \/>\nAssociation of Journalists (GC)<br \/>\nBulgarian Helsinki Committee<br \/>\nCatalan PEN<br \/>\nCenter for Media, Information and Social Research of Georgia (CMIS)<br \/>\nCoalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)<br \/>\nDanish PEN<br \/>\nEuropean Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)<br \/>\nEuropean Federation of Journalists (EFJ)<br \/>\nFreedom House<br \/>\nForeign Media Association (FMA Turkey)<br \/>\nGeorgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics<br \/>\nIFEX<br \/>\nIndex on Censorship<br \/>\nInternational Federation of Journalists (IFJ)<br \/>\nIrish PEN\/PEN na hEireann<br \/>\nKurdish PEN<br \/>\nMedia and Law Studies Association (MLSA)<br \/>\nMedia and Migration Association (MMA)<br \/>\nMedia Development Foundation (MDF)<br \/>\nNetgazeti \/ Batumelebi<br \/>\nOC\u00a0Media<br \/>\nP24 Platform for Independent Journalism<br \/>\nArm\u00e3n PEN<br \/>\nPEN America<br \/>\nPEN Centre of Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina<br \/>\nPEN Esperanto<br \/>\nPEN International<br \/>\nPEN Melbourne<br \/>\nPEN Norway<br \/>\nPEN Qu\u00e9bec<br \/>\nPEN Sweden<br \/>\nPEN T\u00fcrkiye<br \/>\nProgressive Journalists Association (PJA)<br \/>\nSan Miguel PEN<br \/>\nSouth East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)<br \/>\nVietnamese Abroad PEN Centre<br \/>\nYapay G\u00fcndem<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The International Press Institute (IPI), together with undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression, human rights, and journalists\u2019 organizations, and media outlets, expresses serious concern over the recent escalation of press freedom violations in Turkey, marking a troubling start to the new year. The frequent use of arbitrary arrests, detentions, judicial control measures, and convictions poses [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,967],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-positions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42543"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42543\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aej-bulgaria.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}