Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of November 8, 2018
Court sentences former Zaman journalist A court in Uşak on November 14 convicted Ali Ünal, a former columnist for the shuttered daily Zaman, of “founding and leading an armed terrorist organization” and sentenced him to 19 years and six months in prison, the news website Diken reported. The court acquitted the journalist of coup-related charges,…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of November 1, 2018
Journalists in court An Istanbul court on November 5 convicted Yasir Kaya, a sports journalist formerly with Fenerbahçe TV or FBTV, of “being a member of a [terrorist] organization” and sentenced him to six years and three months in prison, according to reports. Kaya remained free pending appeal, according to the report. CPJ previously documented…
CPJ Insider: November 2018 edition
The fight for justice in Jamal Khashoggi’s murder It took the Saudi royal family more than two weeks after Jamal Khashoggi disappeared to admit that he had been killed in the country’s consulate in Istanbul. Saudi officials said the murder was a rogue act, but, according to The New York Times, several of the men…
CPJ to honor courageous journalists at the 2018 International Press Freedom Awards
New York, November 6, 2018–Amid a challenging time for press freedom around the world, CPJ will honor four exceptional journalists for their courage at the 2018 International Press Freedom Awards on November 20, 2018, in New York City.
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of October 26, 2018
Journalist freed pending trial An Istanbul court on October 31, ordered Ali Sönmez Kayar, a reporter for the socialist Etkin News Agency (ETHA), to be freed pending trial, the independent news website Bianet reported. Kayar, who is charged with “being a member of a [terrorist] organization,” was released under judicial control and is under a…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of October 4, 2018
Journalist sentenced to over 7 years in jail A court in the eastern Muş city on October 10 sentenced Seda Taşkın, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency (MA), to a total of seven years and six months in prison, her employer reported. Taşkın attended the hearing via teleconference from the Sincan Women’s Prison,…
Committee to Protect Journalists named winner of 2018 Chatham House prize
New York, October 8, 2018–London’s Royal Institute of International Affairs announced October 8 that the Committee to Protect Journalists has been named the winner of the 2018 Chatham House prize. The prestigious award is presented annually to the person, persons, or organization deemed by members of Chatham House to have made the most significant contribution…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of September 27, 2018
Erdoğan in Germany A Turkish man wearing a “freedom for journalists” T-shirt was thrown out of a press conference between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on September 28, video from Euronews and Özgürüz showed. The man was identified as Adil Yiğit, chief editor for the Turkish language news website…
CPJ welcomes Danya Hajjaji as 2018 Patti Birch fellow for Middle East research
New York, October 1, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists is pleased to announce that Danya Hajjaji has joined CPJ as a 2018 Patti Birch fellow for Middle East Research. Hajjaji is the third recipient of the fellowship. The fellowship was established following a generous grant by the Patti and Everett B. Birch Foundation.
