Turkey / Europe & Central Asia

Istanbul, December 1, 2025—Turkish authorities should immediately release journalist Farih Altaylı pending his appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. An Istanbul court on November 26 found prominent commentator Altaylı, who was arrested pending trial in late June, guilty of the charge of threatening Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison….

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined the International Press Institute and six other press freedom and human rights organizations in the seventh year of a joint press freedom mission to Ankara, Turkey. The delegation also included representatives from the ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa as…

Istanbul, October 27, 2025—Turkish authorities should release TELE1 editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardağ and withdraw the order to assign a trustee to seize control of the outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Istanbul police detained Yanardağ on October 24, and on October 27, a court arrested him pending trial as part of a political “espionage” investigation in which the imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is…

Istanbul, October 23, 2025—Authorities in Turkey shouldn’t fight the appeals of journalists Öznur Değer and Asuman Aranca, who were both sentenced for their work in separate trials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on October 23, 2025. On October 21, a court in the southeastern province of Mardin found Değer, news director for the pro-Kurdish…

Istanbul, October 21, 2025—The authorities in Turkey should ensure the security of journalists Rabia Önver, Şule Aydın, and Murat Ağırel, each of whom have received threats recently due to their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.  “The threats targeting journalists Rabia Önver, Şule Aydın, and Murat Ağırel are worrying, especially at a time when physical…

Istanbul, October 15, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Turkish authorities to investigate the armed assault on journalist Nafiz Koca and determine whether it was carried out in retaliation for his work.  Koca, chair of the Elazığ Press and Media Society and publisher of the local newspapers Günışığı and Yeni Ufuk in the eastern province of Elazığ,…

Istanbul, October 14, 2025—CPJ demands that Turkish authorities conduct a comprehensive investigation into the death of freelance reporter and documentary filmmaker Hakan Tosun to determine whether his killing was in retaliation for his journalism. Istanbul police have arrested two suspects, who have not yet been charged. “The death of filmmaker Hakan Tosun is tragic and must be…

Istanbul, October 6, 2025—Turkish authorities in the eastern province of Elazığ must investigate the recent assault of journalist Evren Demirdaş and ensure his attackers and anyone behind the assault are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On October 1, three men beat the journalist and broke his nose. Demirdaş, the Elazığ reporter for the…

Istanbul, September 23, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Turkish authorities to stop prosecuting broadcasters for commentary after five journalists were charged and three were placed under investigation, accused of either spreading false information or insulting the president in three political debate shows.  “These cases against broadcast journalists are only the most recent in…

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 17 other press freedom and human rights organizations in calling on Turkish authorities to release freelance court reporter Furkan Karabay, who has been in detention for over 100 days. Following his arrest in May, he was indicted on September 5, 2025, on three charges, including “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for which he could face six to…