Turkish police assault and detain AFP photographer Bülent Kılıç as he covers Istanbul Pride march
Istanbul, June 28, 2021 – Turkish authorities should thoroughly investigate all the police officers involved in the recent detention of journalist Bülent Kılıç, and ensure that members of the press can cover events without fear of police harassment and assault, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 26, police officers in Istanbul detained…
Turkish journalist Mustafa Uslu beaten, equipment broken in Kocaeli
Istanbul, June 23, 2021 – Turkish authorities should ensure that the people who beat journalist Mustafa Uslu are held accountable and prosecuted, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, four people in the northwestern province of Kocaeli attacked Uslu, a reporter for the pro-government İhlas News Agency (İHA), while he was covering authorities’ demolition…
Journalist İbrahim Akkuş beaten with pipe in Turkey
Istanbul, June 22, 2021 – Turkish authorities must investigate the recent attack on journalist İbrahim Akkuş, hold the perpetrators to account, and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, three employees of a construction company in the 19 Mayıs District of the northern province of Samsun attacked Akkuş, a reporter for…
EU must highlight press freedom in Turkey during upcoming talks
Brussels, June 22, 2021 – European Union leaders should use the upcoming European Council meeting to call for Turkey to improve its press freedom record, including the release of all jailed journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Officials plan to discuss EU-Turkey relations during the meeting, scheduled for June 24 and 25, according…
At-risk journalists who must flee home countries often find few quick and safe options
In 2018, journalist Mohammad Shubaat was in Daraa, Syria, caught between advancing forces aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the closed borders of Israel and Jordan. Despite the dire threat to Shubaat and many of his colleagues, it would take over a year of intense negotiations with some 20 countries by the Committee to…
Turkish journalist Sinan Aygül sentenced to jail over sexual assault reporting
Istanbul, June 14, 2021 – Turkish authorities should not imprison journalist Sinan Aygül, and the country’s Constitutional Court should accept his case, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 29, the First Penal Chamber of the Van Regional Court of Justice, an appeals court in eastern Turkey, upheld Aygül’s 2019 conviction on charges…
Turkish journalist Ahmet Atmaca beaten in Gaziantep
Istanbul, June 10, 2021 – Turkish authorities should conduct a swift and through investigation into the attack on journalist Ahmet Atmaca and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, a group of people in the southeastern city of Gaziantep attacked Atmaca, a reporter for the pro-government Demirören News…
Turkish presidency reintroduces press card controls that court found restrictive
On April 1 this year, press freedom groups in Turkey chalked up a small win when the nation’s top administrative court, the Council of State, suspended 2018 rules that made it easier for the authorities to cancel or refuse press cards. The changes had transferred authority over press cards to the presidency and barred them…
Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel charged with ‘degrading’ the country
Istanbul, May 13, 2021 – Turkish authorities must cease their legal harassment of journalist Deniz Yücel and drop all of the charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Turkish prosecutors charged Yücel, the former Turkey correspondent for the German newspaper Die Welt, with “publicly degrading the Turkish nation and the State…
Turkish police harass, detain 2 journalists covering terrorism case
On April 26, 2021, police interrupted a press conference in Istanbul, Turkey, and detained two journalists, according to news reports and video of the detentions shared on social media. Police detained Muhammed Enes Sezgin, a reporter with the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, and Bilal Meyveci, a camera operator with the leftist pro-Kurdish website and TV…