freedom of expression

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Twitter labels Sputnik Turkey journalists' accounts as 'Russia state-controlled media'

Twitter labels Sputnik Turkey journalists' accounts as 'Russia state-controlled media'

The journalists, including one who left his job at Sputnik eight months ago, have become targets of harassment, a monitoring group has said.

IPI condemns the attack on columnist Memduh Bayraktaroğlu's house

IPI condemns the attack on columnist Memduh Bayraktaroğlu's house

“Turkey must make clear that violence against journalists is unacceptable,” says International Press Institute Turkey Programme Coordinator Akyavaş regarding the attempted raid on Korkusuz newspaper columnist Bayraktaroğlu’s house.

25 February 2022

Police intervention against lawyers’ protests for Aysel Tuğluk in Ankara, Mersin

Police intervention against lawyers’ protests for Aysel Tuğluk in Ankara, Mersin

Women lawyers have been protesting in the provinces of Ankara, Adana, Mersin, İzmir, Van and Hakkari and demanding that jailed Kurdish politician, lawyer and ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk be released. Police intervened in Ankara and Mersin.

18 February 2022

Court accepts indictment against jailed journalist Sedef Kabaş: Up to 12 years in prison

Court accepts indictment against jailed journalist Sedef Kabaş: Up to 12 years in prison

Held in pre-trial detention for “insulting the President”, journalist Sedef Kabaş is now facing up to 12 years, 10 months in prison as the indictment charging her with “insulting the President” and “insulting public officials” has been accepted.

15 February 2022

‘RTÜK head wants no news to be reported, no criticism to be leveled at government'

INTERVIEW WITH FARUK BİLDİRİCİ

‘RTÜK head wants no news to be reported, no criticism to be leveled at government'

Media ombudsperson Faruk Bildirici has spoken to bianet about the inquiry launched by the Radio and Television Supreme Council against Halk TV and its order to three international news websites to apply for a license within 72 hours.

11 February 2022 Hikmet Adal

Journalist Deniz Yücel fined over ‘dumbest prosecutor of Çağlayan’ quote

Journalist Deniz Yücel fined over ‘dumbest prosecutor of Çağlayan’ quote

Deniz Yücel, the former Turkey correspondent of Die Welt who spent a year behind bars in Turkey, has been given a judicial fine for “insulting” Hasan Yılmaz, the former İstanbul Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor and the current Vice Justice Minister.

9 February 2022

Journalist Buse Söğütlü acquitted 2 years, 7 hearings later

Journalist Buse Söğütlü acquitted 2 years, 7 hearings later

Put on trial for “turning High Criminal Court Judge Akın Gürlek into a target”, journalist Buse Söğütlü has been acquitted. But the court has filed another criminal complaint, this time on charge of “insulting a public official”.

3 February 2022

‘Insulting the President’: Is it a tool to bring society into line?

‘Insulting the President’: Is it a tool to bring society into line?

According to lawyer Molu, the law on insulting the President aims to prevent or deter people from criticizing. Önderoğlu from the RSF says the law is a tool to bring people into line: Since 2014, 70 journalists have been convicted of this charge in Turkey.

27 January 2022 Hikmet Adal

Atölye BİA training videos now online!

Atölye BİA training videos now online!

You may access the trilingual training videos on Rights-Based Journalism, News Photography, LGBTI+based Journalism and Freedom of Expression on atolyebia.org.

26 January 2022

Turkey ranks first in violations of freedom of expression, show annual ECtHR statistics

2021 REPORT

Turkey ranks first in violations of freedom of expression, show annual ECtHR statistics

The European Court of Human Rights handed down 78 judgements on Turkey in 2021, ruling against the country in 76 of these cases.

26 January 2022

ECtHR convicts Turkey over journalist Deniz Yücel’s imprisonment

ECtHR convicts Turkey over journalist Deniz Yücel’s imprisonment

The European Court of Human Rights has concluded that Turkey violated the freedom of expression and right to liberty and security of journalist Deniz Yücel, who was held in prison for 367 days in the country.

25 January 2022

‘You cannot get rid of our tongue’: PEN Turkey expresses support for Kabaş, Aksu

‘You cannot get rid of our tongue’: PEN Turkey expresses support for Kabaş, Aksu

PEN Turkey Center has released a statement in the wake of musician Sezen Aksu being targeted over the lyrics of a song and the arrest of journalist Sedef Kabaş for “insulting the President” with a proverb.

25 January 2022

203 artists express support: ‘Sezen Aksu will never walk alone’

DECLARATION

203 artists express support: ‘Sezen Aksu will never walk alone’

In the face of targeting remarks and threats over a song, including from President and AKP Chair Erdoğan, 203 artists have expressed their solidarity with musician Sezen Aksu: “We will not lose even a single one of us.”

24 January 2022

Speech on investigation for ‘insulting the President’ investigated for the same charge

Speech on investigation for ‘insulting the President’ investigated for the same charge

People’s Liberation Party (HKP) Chair Efe made a press statement in front of the courthouse after giving his statement as to his alleged insult for Erdoğan. He is now investigated for “insulting the President” over this statement.

24 January 2022

Journalists’ struggle for freedom, a glimmer of hope from the judiciary

BİA MEDIA MONITORING REPORT / 2021

Journalists’ struggle for freedom, a glimmer of hope from the judiciary

In 2021, 35 journalists were sentenced to 92 years; at least 41 were detained. The “world’s worst jailer of journalists” for years, Turkey now relies more on “judicial control” against journalists while the turn to be detained has come to citizen journalists.

24 January 2022 Erol Önderoğlu,Sinem Aydınlı

‘Turkey’s economy is in complete collapse,’ says CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu

‘Turkey’s economy is in complete collapse,’ says CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu

Main opposition leader Kılıçdaroğlu has addressed journalists: “Don’t worry, it is so close… Regardless of who they are, they will see what press freedom is as long as they act morally and we will know how to learn from those criticisms.”

11 January 2022

Both gains and concerns in journalists’ rights!

BIA MEDIA MONITOR / OCTOBER-NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021

Both gains and concerns in journalists’ rights!

In the last quarter of 2021, at least 214 journalists appeared before the judge in 81 court cases in Turkey, facing 23 different charges. At least 62 were charged with “organization membership” and 14 “terror propaganda.” Happy Working Journalists Day!

10 January 2022 Erol Önderoğlu,Sinem Aydınlı

Where does hate speech stand, where does freedom of expression?

RESILIENCE IN JOURNALISM ARTICLES - 1

Where does hate speech stand, where does freedom of expression?

Considering hate speech outside the limits of freedom of expression is an example of the limitations on freedom of expression. This differentiation may be considered to indicate that the state is authorized to limit freedom of expression.

10 January 2022 Nazan Özcan

Turkey's top court urges Parliament to eliminate structural problems within a year

PILOT RULING ON ACCESS BLOCKS

Turkey's top court urges Parliament to eliminate structural problems within a year

The Constitutional Court has concluded that the access blocks imposed on some news stories published on a series of news websites such as BirGün, Gazete Duvar and Diken were in violation of their rights and ruled for payment of damages.

Justice Ministry doesn’t permit investigation against lawyer Bolaç over ‘diktat’ tweet

Justice Ministry doesn’t permit investigation against lawyer Bolaç over ‘diktat’ tweet

Lawyer Efkan Bolaç wrote on Twitter on July 16, 2016: “Nothing so bad but it might have been worse, we have seen this, too. The diktat enthusiasts who staged a coup against the diktat have turned the country into a fireground.”

6 January 2022 Ayça Söylemez

'Cost of journalism' in Turkey: 67 journalists stood trial in December

'Cost of journalism' in Turkey: 67 journalists stood trial in December

The Journalists’ Association has released its December 2021 report: 67 journalists faced 412 years, 1 month to 1,334 years, 1 month in prison and three life sentences in Turkey in a month while eight journalists were sentenced to 14 years in prison.

RTÜK fines three broadcasters over reports, comments critical of government

RTÜK fines three broadcasters over reports, comments critical of government

Halk TV, FOX TV and TELE1 will pay a fine of 2 percent of their advertising revenues.

30 December 2021

Journalist faces lawsuit for reports on 'abusive father'

Journalist faces lawsuit for reports on 'abusive father'

bianet editor Evrim Kepenek is facing a lawsuit for "insult" after a complaint by the man who was arrested for abusing his child.

29 December 2021 Evrim Kepenek

Turkey's banking agency files complaint against journalists, politicians over forex comments

Turkey's banking agency files complaint against journalists, politicians over forex comments

Politicians and pundits have questioned whether the lira's recent fluctuations were triggered by the government on purpose.

27 December 2021

Prosecutors seek investigation against HDP executives for statement on Armenian Genocide

Prosecutors seek investigation against HDP executives for statement on Armenian Genocide

If the minister of justice gives permission, the HDP executives will be investigated for "insulting the Turkish nation and the state."

27 December 2021

3 YouTubers doing street interviews placed under house arrest

3 YouTubers doing street interviews placed under house arrest

Detained on December 12, the owners of three YouTube channels posting street interviews Arif Kocabıyık, Hasan Köksoy and Turan Kural have been released to house arrest. An international travel ban has been imposed on the three.

13 December 2021

Turkey is the ‘sixth worst jailer of journalists’ in 2021, shows CPJ report

Turkey is the ‘sixth worst jailer of journalists’ in 2021, shows CPJ report

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has released its annual report: “The number of journalists jailed around the world set another record in 2021. Repressive regimes from Asia to Europe to Africa cracked down harshly on the independent press.”

9 December 2021

Journalist Fatih Gönül acquitted

Journalist Fatih Gönül acquitted

Fatih Gönül, a former reporter for the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was closed by a Statutory Decree, has been acquitted of “organization membership” and “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”.

25 November 2021

Charlie Hebdo on trial in Turkey for 'insulting the President'

COURT CASE BEGINS

Charlie Hebdo on trial in Turkey for 'insulting the President'

In the trial over the cartoon on the cover page of France-based weekly satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the first hearing was held in the absence of defendants at the Ankara 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance today, on November 18, 2021.

18 November 2021

ECtHR convicts Turkey for not letting a newspaper in prison

ECtHR convicts Turkey for not letting a newspaper in prison

The European Court of Human Rights has concluded that not allowing Atılım newspaper to be distributed in prison violated freedom of expression. Turkey will now pay prisoner Çiftçi 1,000 Euro in non-pecuniary damages.

17 November 2021

Academic released from arrest after 'long live Kurdistan' post

Academic released from arrest after 'long live Kurdistan' post

Hifzullah Kutum has been suspended from his post and is facing "propaganda" charges because of a social media post.

10 November 2021

Facing deportation over news on ‘banana-eating videos’, journalist Shamaa released

Facing deportation over news on ‘banana-eating videos’, journalist Shamaa released

Having reported on the ‘banana-eating videos’ of Syrian people in protest against the targeting remarks of a citizen in a street interview, journalist Majed Shamaa, who was sent to a removal center to be deported from Turkey, has been released.

9 November 2021