List of arrested journalists in Turkey

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Alleged sympathies of the detained Turkish journalists between 2016 and 2019 Journalist Turkey.svg
Alleged sympathies of the detained Turkish journalists between 2016 and 2019

Many journalists in Turkey are being persecuted and kept in jail all over the country. [1] Below is an extensive list of the prisoners, past and present.

Contents

231 journalists have been arrested after 15 July 2016 alone. [2] According to the Gülen movement-linked (which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, [3] Pakistan, [4] and the GCC [5] ) advocacy group Stockholm Center for Freedom that tracks cases of prosecutions of Turkish journalists, in the year 2018, 122 journalists received a jail sentence. [6]

List of arrested journalists

The following is a non-exhaustive list of arrested journalists in Turkey: [7] A new updated and searchable list of jailed journalists is compiled by Stockholm Center for Freedom which stated that 165 journalists were arrested, 88 convicted and 167 wanted as of 8 May 2020.

Arrested journalists in Turkey
NameMediaPositionDate arrestedStatusBackground info
Abdulcebbar Karabeğ Azadiya Welat correspondent in Mersin 2010-09-26Released on 2012-11-02 [8] detained at the closed prison of Hatay
Abdullah Çetin Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Kurtalan, Siirt Province 2011-12-16Released on 2014-06-25 [9] detained at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakır
Abdullah Civan Today's Zaman 2016-9-2Convicted on 2017-5-26convicted to 10 years and 5 months, detained in İzmir [10]
Abdullah Kılıç Meydancorrespondent2016-07-25 [11] Convicted and jailed pending trialSentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018. Imprisoned in the Silivri prison, İstanbul [12]
Abdülkader Civan Today's Zaman 2016-09-02ConvictedSentenced to more than 10 years imprisonment on 26 May 2017 [10]
Adnan Bilen Mezopotamya Agency journalist2020-10-9released in April 2021 [13] imprisoned for about 6 months
Abdurrahman Gök Dicle Haber Ajansı journalist24 March 2009 [14] released in November 2009 [15]
Abdurrahman ÖncüPiaCamera operator2022-06-16arrested [16]
Ahmet Altan Taraf journalist2016-09-10released 2021-04-21 [17] Sentenced to life in prison with solitary confinement in 2018. [18] Released after an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and a ruling of the Court of Cassation [17]
Ahmet Akyol Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Adana2011-05-09Released on 2012-11-06 [19] Was detained at the M-Type prison in Ceyhan, Adana
Ahmet Birsin Gün TVgeneral coordinator2009-04-14ConvictedSentenced to 21 years for administrating a terrorist organization in March 2017 [20]
Ahmet Böken TRT 2016-08-18ConvictedSentenced to 9 years and 9 months imprisonment. [10]
Mehmet Bilal Colak TRT 2016-08-18ConvictedSentenced to 9 years imprisonment. [10]
Ahmet Şık Cumhuriyet 3 March 2011/2016-12-3012 March 2012/released pending trial in March 2018First arrest is part of Ergenekon trials. Sentenced to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment on second arrest [10]
Ahmet Torun TRT Sentenced to 7 years and 5 months imprisonment. [10]
Ali Konar Azadiya Welat correspondent in Elazig 2010-05-27ConvictedSentenced to 7 years and 6 months on 22 October 2015 [21]
Ali Özparun TRT jailed pending trial [10]
Ali Ünal Yeni Hayat2016-08-16Convicted on the 2018-11-14, pending trialSentenced to 19 years and 6 months, detained in the F Type prison Buca Kırıklar [10]
Arif Çelebi Released on 2014-05-08 [22] detained during 7 years and 8 months
Aykut Yildir TRT jailed pending trial [10]
Ayşe Oyman Özgür Gündem editor2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-03 [23] detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, Istanbul
Aysenur Parildak Zaman 2016-08-11Arrestedsentenced to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment [10]
Aytekin GeziciSeyhan Belediyesi2016-08-26detained pending appealsentenced to 9 years in prison on 16 February 2018 [10]
Aziz Tekin Azadiya Welat correspondent in Mardin2012-01-29Arresteddetained at the E-Type prison in Mardin
Aziz Oruç Mezapotamya Agency 2022-06-16 [16] Arrested
Barış Polat Mezopotamya Agency Convicted in January 2020sentenced to 6 years and 3 months [24]
Bayram KayaYeni Hayat2016-07-29Arrested, jailed pending trialsentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018 [10]
Bayram Namaz Atılım writer2006-09-10Released on 2014-05-08 [22] detained during 7 years and 8 months at the F-Type prison in Edirne
Bedri Adanır Aram Yayınları, Hawar general director2010-01-08Released on 2012-11-27 [25] detained during 689 days at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakır
Berivan Altan Mezopotamya Agency journalist30-10-2022 [26] arrested
Cemil Uğur Mezopotamya Agency 2020-10-09Released in April 2021 [13] imprisoned for about 6 months
Cengiz Kapmaz Özgür Gündem writer2011-11-26Convicted
Cengiz Dogan Azadiya Welat 2009-04-20ConvictedSentenced to 17 years and 1 month in prison. [27]
Çağdaş Kaplan Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Istanbul2011-12-20Released on 2013-02-11 [28] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Cuma UlusCan

Erzincan TV

2016-08-06ConvictedSentenced to 6 years 3 months imprisonment on 8 March 2018 [10]
Davut Uçar Etik Ajansdirector2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Deniz Nazlım Mezopotamya agency journalist30-10-2022 [26] Arrested
Deniz Yıldırım Aydınlık Chief editor2009-11-09Released in March 2014sentenced for leaking a phone conversation of Erdogan to the media [29]
Deniz Yücel Die Welt , taz journalist2017-02-14Released on 2018-02-16jailed in Istanbul [30]
Derek Stoffel CBC News journalist2013-06-12Released on 2013-06-12 [31]
Dilşah Ercan Azadiya Welat correspondent in Mersin2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the M-Type prison in Ceyhan, Adana
Dilek Demiral Özgür Gündem journalist2010-09-26Released on 2014-03-03 [23] detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, Istanbul
Diren Yurtsever Mezopotamya agency Editor in chief30-10-2022arrested [26]
Ebru Umar Metro, Libelle journalist, writer, columnist2016-04-23(Partly) released on 2016-04-24Dutch journalist, arrested because of insulting Turkish president Erdoğan. Umar is prohibited to leave Turkey for the Netherlands awaiting further investigation. [32]
Eda Akıllı Şanlı Bizim Antalyacolumnist2016-07-25 [11] Released pending trial the 2016-12-18 [33]
Emrullah Acar Mezopotamya Agency correspondent30-10-2022 [26] Arrested
Ekrem Dumanlı Zaman Gazetesi general director2014-12-14Released on 2014-12-19 [34] [35]
Elif ÜngürPEL productionspresenter16 June 2022arrested [36]
Emre Soncan Zamancorrespondent2016-07-24 [11] Convicted, jailed pending trialsentenced to 10 years and 5 months on 10 April 2018 [10]
Enis Berberoğlu Sözcü 14 June 2017Released on 20 September 2018 [10] Sentenced to 25 years on 14 June 2017, the sentence was lowered to 5 years and 10 months on 13 February 2018. Released until the end of his term as MP of the Turkish Parliament. [37]
Erdal Süsem Eylüleditor2010-02-10ConvictedConvicted to life in prison [38]
Erol Zavar Odakdirector2007-01-20Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Sincan, Ankara
Ersin Şanlı TRT manager2016-7-20Arrested [39]
Ertuğ Bozkurt Dicle Haber Ajansı editor2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Faruk AkkanCihan2016-08-04Arrestedsentenced to 9 years imprisonment [10]
Fatih Özgür Aydın 2011-07-25Arrested
Fatma Koçak Dicle Haber Ajansı director2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, Istanbul
Faysal Tunç Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Sirnak2007-04-05ConvictedSentenced twice to 6 years and 3 months [40]
Ferhat Çiftçi Azadiya Welat correspondent in Gaziantep2011-02-16Arresteddetained at the H-Type women prison in Gaziantep
Füsun Erdoğan Özgür Radyogeneral coordinator2006-09-10Released on 2014-05-08 [22] detained during 7 years and 8 months at the T-Type prison in Kandira
Gurbetelli Ersöz Özgür Gündem Editor-in-Chief1994-01-12 [41] June 1994 [42]
Gülnaz YıldızMücadele Birliği2012-04-26ConvictedSentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison [38]
Gülsen Aslan Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Batman2012-02-20Released on 2012-10-15 [19] detained at the M-Type prison in Batman
Habip Güler Zaman correspondent2016-07-25 [11] Convicted, jailed pending trialsentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018. Detained in Silivri Prison. [10]
Hakan Soytemiz 2010-09-25Released on 2012-09-24 [19]
Hakan Yalçın Mezopotamya Agency Journalist30-10-2022Arrested [26]
Halil İbrahim Balta Zaman, Yarına Bakışcorrespondent2016-07-25 [11] Convicted, jailed pending trialsentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018 [10]
Hanim Büşra ErdalYeni Hayat2016-07-29Convicted, jailed pending trialsentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018 [10]
Hamit Dilbahar Azadiya Welat writer2010-02-13ConvictedSentenced to 16 years imprisonment. [43]
Hamza Güneri Gök TRT 2017-01-30ConvictedSentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 26 February 2019. [10]
Hasan Özgüneş Azadiya Welat writer2011-10-28Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Hatice Duman Atılım director2003-04-01Convictedsentenced to life imprisonment. [44] Detained at the M-Type prison in Gebze [10]
Hayati Yildiz Azadiya Welat 2017-03-01Released pending trialReleased pending trial 20 September 2017 [2]
Hidayet Karaca Samanyolu TV owner2014-12-14Convictedsentenced to 31 years imprisonment on 3 November 2017. [10]
Hikmet Çiçek 2008-03-25Released 2014-03-10Part of Ergenekon trials
Hüseyin Deniz Evrensel correspondent2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-27 [45] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
İdris SayılğanMezopotamya ajansijournalist2020-03-02 [46] currently arrestedHe was previously arrested for 1,137 days between 2016 and 2019 [47]

Sentenced to 4 years for terrorist propaganda [47]

İlker İlkan Azadiya Welat 2016-09-09Released pending trialReleased 12 October 2017 [2]
Ismail Yıldız Dersimdirector2011-12-24Released on 2013-02-11 [28] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Jake Hanrahan Popular Front journalist2015-8-27Deported to UK after a weekArrested after being "accused of working on behalf of a terrorist organisation and assisting Islamic State" while covering disturbances in Diyarbakir. [48]
Kadri Gürsel Cumhuriyet journalist2016-10Released on 2017-09-25He was accused, together with other Cumhuriyet staff, in the case on terrorism charges, with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), and the Fethullahist Organization (FETÖ) among the groups named in the indictments. [49]
Kamuran Sunbat Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent11-09-2011Arrestedthe former Cukurova correspondent of the pro-Kurdish Dicle News Ajansi (DiHA), was arrested in 2011. He was convicted over alleged links to outlawed Kurdish militant groups and is currently serving a sentence of 11 years, 11 months in prison. [50]
Kenan Baş Zamancorrespondent2016-07-25 [11] Released on 29 March 2017, pending trial [10]
Kenan Karavil Radyo Dünyageneral director2009-12-11Released on 2010-10-22 [51] detained at the F-Type prison in Kürkçüler, Adana
Kenan Kırkaya Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Ankara2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-27 [45] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Mazlum Doğan GülerPiacamera operator2022-06-16 [16] Arrested
Mazlum Dolan Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Diyarbakır2016-02-19 [11] Released pending trialreleased after serving 15 months in Diyarbakir Prison [10]
Mazlum Özdemir Dicle Haber Ajansı editor2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-27 [45] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Mediha Olgun Sözcü 2017-05-26Released pending trialReleased pending trial 22 September 2017 [2]
Mehmet Akif Öztürk TRT 2019-02-26Sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison [10]
Mehmet AnılEtkin Haber2016-10-07Released pending trial the 2016-12-14 [10]
Mehmet Aslan Mezapotamya Ajansi journalist2021-01-05 [52] arrested pending trial
Mehmet Baransu Taraf correspondent and columnist2015-03-02 [53] detained at the Metris Prison
Mehmet Dener2016-07-22Released pending trial 2017-03-24 [10]
Mehmet Emin Yıldırım Azadiya Welat general director2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-27 [45] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Mehmet Ali ErtaşXwebuneditor2022-06-16arrested [16]
Mehmet Güneş Türkiye Gerçeğiwriter ???-??-??Released on 2012-10-05 [54] detained during 310 days at the F-Type Tekirdağ number 2 prison
Mehmet Haberal Kanal Bowner2009-04-17Released on 6 September 2013Part of Ergenekon trials
Mehmet ŞahinPiya productionspresenter2022-06-16Arrested [36]
Mehmet Yeşiltepe Devrimci Hareketwriter2009-04-30Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Tekirdağ
Miktat Algül Mersin Mezitli FM (radio) and Ulus Newspaper2010-05-17ArrestedSentenced to 60 years and 5 months in prison. [27]
Mohammed Rasool Popular Front journalist2015-8-27Released the following JanuaryArrested after being "accused of working on behalf of a terrorist organisation and assisting Islamic State" while covering disturbances in Diyarbakir. [48]
Murat Aksoy journalist2017-04Released on 2017-10-25Jailed pending trial over suspected links to the FETÖ media network. He was accused of "being a member of a terror group" and of "participating in a coup attempt." [55]
Murat Aydın 2011-10-22Arrested
Murat ÖztürkÇorum Manşet2016-08-21Released pending trialReleased pending trial 16 May 2017 [2]
Musa Kart Yürüyüş2012-09-18Arresteddetained in Silivri Prison
Mustafa Balbay Cumhuriyet correspondent in Ankara2009-03-06Released on 2013-12-09 [56] detained at the E-type prison in Sincan, Ankara for 4 years and 277 days. [56] Part of Ergenekon trials
Mustafa Gök Ekmek ve Adaletcorrespondent in Ankara2004-02-19ConvictedSentenced to life in prison for attempting to change the constitutional order by force. [38]
Mustafa ÜnalYeni Hayat2016-07-29ConvictedSentenced to 10 years and 6 months on 8 July 2018 [57]
Mümtaz'er Türköne Yarına Bakış03-08-2016released 2020-09-24Sentenced to 10 years 6 months on 6 July 2018, but released following an appeal. [10]
Müyesser Yıldız OdatvFebruary 2011/8 June 2020released June 2012 [58] /released 9 November 2020 [59] First arrest is part of Ergenekon trials
Nahide Ermiş Demokratik Moderniteboard member2011-12-24Released on 2014-01-14 [60] detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul
Nazlı Ilıcak Bulvar, Bugün, Hurriyet publisher, journalist2016-07-29Convicted/Jailed Pending AppealSentenced to life in prison with solitary confinement in 2018. She was released on 5 November 2019. [18]
Nedim Türfent Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Van2016-05-12released on 29 November 2022 [61] Sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison on 15 December 2017 [10]
Neşe ToprakPELTV host2022-06-16arrested [16]
Nevin Erdemir Özgür Gündem editor2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-27 [45] detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul
Nilgün Yıldız Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Mardin2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul
Nurettin Fırat Özgür Gündem writer2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Nuri Yeşil Azadiya Welat correspondent in Tunceli2010-05-27Arresteddetained at the E-Type prison in Elbistan
Oktay Candemir Dicle Haber Ajansı journalist2011-12-24Released on 2012-11-16 [62] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Olgun Matur Bizim Antalyaowner2016-07-25 [11] Arrested
Ömer Çelik Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Istanbul2016-12-24 [63] released in October 2017 [64] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Ömer Çelik program Views from Amedpresenter2022-06-16 [36] arrested
Ömer Çiftçi Demokratik Moderniteowner2011-12-24Released on 2013-02-11 [28] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Ömer Faruk Çalışkan Özgür Halkgeneral director2008-07-19Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Ozan Kılınç Azadiya Welat Editor2010-07-22ConvictedSentenced to 32 years in prison. [38]
Özlem Ağuş Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Adana2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the women prison in Karatas, Adana
Pervin Yerlikaya Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Istanbul
accountant		2011-12-24Released on 2013-02-11 [28] detained at the L-Type prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul
Philip Pendlebury Popular Front journalist2015-8-27Deported to UK after a weekArrested after being "accused of working on behalf of a terrorist organisation and assisting Islamic State" while covering disturbances in Diyarbakir. [48]
Ramazan Pekgöz Günlük editor2011-12-20 [65] Released in 2014-05-12 [66]
Sadık Topaloğlu Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Urfa2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Safiye AlagaşJinNewsjournalist2022-06-16arrested [36]
Saša Petricic CBC News journalist2013-06-12Released on 2013-06-12 [31]
Selahattin Aslan Demokratik Modernite2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Selma Tatli Zaman 2018-11-28Arrested pending trial [10]
Semiha Alankuş Demokratik Modernite2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-27 [45] detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Serdar AltanDicle-Firat Journalists AssociationCo-Chair2022-06-16 [16] Arrested
Serkan Canbaz TRT 2016-12-30ConvictedSentenced to 6 years and 10 months 15 days in prison on 16 February 2019. [10]
Sevcan Atak Özgür Halkeditor2010-06-18ArrestedSentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison. [27]
Seyithan Akyüz Azadiya Welat correspondent in Adana2009-12-11Arrestedsentenced in 4 trials to 21 years and 9 months in total. [27]
Sibel Güler Özgür Gündem journalist2011-12-24Released on 2014-03-03 [23] detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy Istanbul
Sinan Aygül Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Bitlis2011-01-23Released on 2012-11-07detained at the E-Type prison in Muş
Şirin Çoban Azadiya Welat 2016-09-09Released pending trialReleased on 12 October 2017 [2]
Soner Yalçın OdaTV, Hürriyet owner, journalist2011-02-14Released on 2012-12-27 [67] detained at the L-Type prison in Silivri. Part of Ergenekon trials
Suat DoğuhanPEL productionsowner2022-06-16 [16] Arrested
Sultan Şaman Hevîya Jinê editor2012-02-07Arresteddetained at the M-Type prison in Batman
Şahabettin Demir Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Van2010-09-05ConvictedSentenced to 15 years in prison. [27]
Şükrü Sak Akıncı Yol ve Baran Dergisi general director2010-04-26Arresteddetained at the E-Type prison in Sivas
Tayip Temel Azadiya Welat writer2011-10-08Arresteddetained at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakir
Tuncay Özkan ex-Kanaltürk owner2008-09-27Released on 10 March 2014detained at the L-Type prison in Silivri. Part of Ergenekon trials
Tunca Öğreten Diken journalist25-12-2016released 6 December 2017 [68] concerning the emails of Berat Albayrak, the son-in law of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and sentenced for Insulting the president [68]
Turabi Kişin Özgür Gündem editor2012-01-02Arresteddetained at the F-Type prison in Kandira
Turgut Usul TRT presenter2018-01-04Arrestedjailed pending trial. [69]
Turhan Özlü Ulusal Kanal general director2011-10-08Arresteddetained at the L-Type prison in Silivri
Ünal TanikRotahaber18-01-2017ArrestedSentenced to 6 years 3 months imprisonment on 8 March 2018. [10]
Vedat Demir Yarına Bakışcolumnist2016-08-03Released on 2017-02-17 [70] detained at the Silivri Prison
Yalçın Küçük writer2011-03-07Released 2014-03-10 [71] detained at the L-Type prison in Silivri. Part of Ergenekon trials.
Yüksel Genç Özgür Gündem writer2011-12-24Arresteddetained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul
Zehra Doğan Jinhajournalist2017 - MarchArrested/ released on the 24 - 02 - 2019sentenced to 2 years 9 months and 22 days [12]
Zehra Firdevsoğlu Mukavemet Arrested [10]
Zeynel Abidin BulutXwebuneditor2022-06-16arrested [16]
Zeynep Kuray Birgün correspondent in Istanbul2011-12-24
Released on 2013-04-26 [72] detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul
Ziya Çiçekçi Özgür Gündem owner2011-12-24Released on 2013-02-11 [28] detained at the F-Type women prison in Kandira
Zuhal Tekiner Dicle Haber Ajansı owner2011-12-24Released on 2013-02-11 [28] detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul

Grounds for prosecution

Kemalist and / or nationalist journalists were arrested on charges referring to the Ergenekon case and several left-wing and Kurdish journalists were arrested on charges of engaging in propaganda for the PKK listed as a terrorist organization. After the corruption operation in 17/25 December 2013 and in particular after coup attempt of 15 July, the apartments of journalists were raided and sent to prison. The journalists such as Mehmet Baransu, Ece Sevim Ozturk, who were investigating the ‘  Coup attempt’, were arrested. Media organizations such as Zaman newspaper, Cihan News Agency and Samanyolu TV, which were affiliated to the Fethullah Gülen group, were confiscated. Journalists working in these institutions were imprisoned. Life imprisonment was given to journalists such as Hidayet Karaca and Ahmet Altan. With the dozens of published decrees, newspapers, TV, radio, magazine, website was closed. The legal framework on organised crime and terrorism is imprecise and contains definitions which are open to abuse, leading to numerous indictments and convictions. Moreover, its interpretation by prosecutors and courts is uneven and is not in line with the European Convention on Human Rights or the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, according to the European Commission. No clear distinction is made between incitement to violence and the expression of nonviolent ideas. The application of Articles 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terror Law in combination with Articles 220 and 314 of the Turkish Criminal Code leads to abuses; in short, writing an article or making a speech can still lead to a court case and a long prison sentence for membership or leadership of a terrorist organisation. Together with possible pressure on the press by state officials and the threat of possible firing of critical journalists, this situation can lead to a widespread self-censorship. Frequent website bans are a cause for serious concern and there is a need to revise the law on the internet. [73]

Most journalists are in prison based on the following laws:

Concerns

Concerns persisted over the rights of the defence, lengthy pre-trial detention and excessively long and catch-all indictments, leading to significantly enhanced public scrutiny of the legitimacy of these trials. [73]

A report issued by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media [74] describes a number of concerns concerning the case of arrested journalists in Turkey:

See also

Lists:

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Nedim Türfent is a Kurdish journalist from Turkey who worked as a correspondent for Dicle News Agency (DIHA) in the South East of Turkey. He was arrested on May 12, 2016, and charged with "membership in a terrorist organisation" under the Anti-Terror Law of Turkey. He remains in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuncer Bakırhan</span> Kurdish politician (born 1970)

Tuncer Bakırhan is a politician of Kurdish descent and current co-leader of the Kurdish minority interests party DEM Party. He is a former chairman of the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) and the former Mayor of Siirt. He was dismissed from his duties as mayor by the Turkish ministry of the interior, arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mezopotamya Agency</span> Turkish news agency

Mezopotamya Agency is a Kurdish news agency based in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. It is described as pro-Kurdish by the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists of the Council of Europe (COE), and left-wing by the International Observatory of Human Rights. It publishes articles in Kurdish, Turkish and English language. Mezopotamya Ajansı's www.mezopotamyaajansi35.com website, which had been blocked 34 times before, was also blocked on the grounds of 'protection of national security and public order' by Erzurum 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace on March 12. Thereupon, the agency continued to publish on www.mezopotamyaajansi.net

Selahattin Demirtaş is a politician of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) and faced several trials since he was arrested in November 2016. He was accused of having established and lead a terrorist organization, propagandizing for a terrorist organization, or being a leading member of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). He was sentenced several times since, but two of them were overturned and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled for his release. He faces trials for over a hundred charges and is threatened with a 142 years imprisonment.

Füsun Erdoğan is a radio journalist from Turkey that was sentenced to prison during Operation Gaye. She was accused of involvement in a banned organization, the Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MKLP), under the Anti-Terror Law of Turkey. She was imprisoned in the Gezbe Women's Prison near Istanbul without completion of a trial for eight years. She claims that she was targeted due to her political opinions and her status as a journalist, stating that the "police was trying to intimidate members of the progressive, independent, democratic and alternative media." Others have also argued she was imprisoned for criticizing the government of Turkey. She was released on 8 May 2014 pending a final trial. However, Erdoğan, having dual Turkish-Dutch citizenship, moved to the Netherlands as an asylum seeker in 2014.

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