Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of February 17, 2019
Appeals court upholds Cumhuriyet verdict An Istanbul appeals court on February 19 upheld the terrorism-related convictions of staff from the daily Cumhuriyet who were earlier sentenced to five years or less in prison, according to reports. CPJ condemned the decision. The decision means that at least six defendants, including a cartoonist, journalists, a lawyer, an…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of February 2, 2019
Court convicts parliamentary deputy and editor Barış Yarkadaş An Istanbul court on February 7 convicted Barış Yarkadaş, the parliamentary deputy for the main opposition party CHP and former chief editor of the online newspaper Gerçek Gündem, of “violating the secrecy of private life” and handed him a suspended 10-month prison sentence, the news website Gazete…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of January 28, 2019
Düzkan starts jail term for Özgür Gündem campaignJournalist Ayşe Düzkan started serving an 18-month prison sentence in Bakırköy Women’s Prison in Istanbul on January 29 over her participation in a solidarity campaign with the daily newspaper Özgür Gündem, the independent news website Bianet reported. A court sentenced Düzkan in November. Before turning herself in, Düzkanb…
CPJ Insider: February 2019 edition
CPJ joins event at U.S. Capitol marking 100 days since Khashoggi murder The Committee to Protect Journalists spoke alongside policymakers and press freedom advocates at a bipartisan event at the U.S. Capitol on January 10, hosted by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Steven Chabot (R-OH), and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). The event marked 100 days…
CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the 2019 political crisis in Venezuela
UPDATED: This safety advisory was updated on February 20, 2019. In response to disputed election results, Venezuelans from both sides have taken to the streets in recent weeks, according to news reports. The crisis began following the inauguration of President Nicolás Maduro to his second term on January 10, after an electoral process characterized by…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week beginning January 20, 2019
Jailed journalist Nazlı Ilıcak sentenced to extra 5-year prison term An Istanbul court on January 22 sentenced veteran journalist Nazlı Ilıcak to five years and 10 months in prison for “exposing secret documents,” the news website Diken reported. Ilıcak, who worked most recently with shuttered outlets Can Erzincan TV and the daily Özgür Düşünce, is…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of January 13, 2019
Turkey deports Dutch journalist Authorities on January 17 deported Ans Boersma, a Dutch freelance journalist based in Istanbul, BBC Turkish reported. The journalist was taken into custody the day before, when she tried to renew her residence permit at the Foreigners’ Office in Istanbul. She was detained overnight at a police station, and put on…
Nicaragua starts 2019 with continued press crackdowns
On Monday, Gabon’s government shut down the nation’s internet and broadcasting services following an attempted coup against President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Sudan detained several critical columnists amid protests. In Canada, police blocked media from covering the breakup of an anti-pipeline protest led by indigenous activists. Global press freedom updates Mozambican police arrested a radio journalist…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of January 7, 2019
Erdoğan says Turkish media is ‘more democratic’ In a message to mark Working Journalists’ Day–a local press freedom day on January 10–Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “The reforms actualized in the past 16 years have enabled the Turkish press to be richer, diverse, and meet a more democratic and liberal structure,” Duvar reported.
