Multiple journalists detained or arrested in Turkey ahead of NATO summit
Istanbul, July 8, 2026—Turkey should put an end to arbitrary detentions and arrests of journalists following the recent detaining of at least 11 members of the press ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Three of the journalists who were taken into police custody in Turkey between June…
Courts in Turkey sentence four journalists for critical commentary
Istanbul, April 15, 2026—Turkish authorities must stop harassing critical journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Zafer Arapkirli (of the leftist daily BirGün and BirGün TV), Barış Pehlivan (of the pro-opposition daily Cumhuriyet, and the Onlar TV YouTube channel), Timur Soykan (BirGün, Onlar TV), and Murat Ağırel (Cumhuriyet, Onlar TV) were sentenced to prison by two Istanbul courts in…
3 journalists in Turkey receive death threats
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…
8 Turkish journalists face jail for ‘insult’ and ‘false news’ over talk show comments
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…
CPJ joins call for Turkey to ensure safety of threatened journalist Murat Ağırel
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 22 press freedom and freedom of expression groups on Wednesday in a joint statement calling on the authorities in Turkey to ensure that journalist Murat Ağırel, who has been receiving death threats because of his reporting, remains safe. The statement listed a number of incidents in which Ağırel, a…
Turkish journalist Murat Ağırel suspects spying on his house, family
Istanbul, June 14, 2024—Turkish authorities must do everything in their power to provide security for journalist Murat Ağırel and his family to protect them from harassment and intrusions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Ağırel, a columnist for Cumhuriyet, a daily known for its critical coverage of the government, said he observed people wandering…
Turkish court sentences journalist Barış Terkoğlu to 2 years under terror law
Istanbul, May 2, 2024 — Turkish authorities should not contest the appeal of journalist Barış Terkoğlu after he was sentenced to two years on terrorism-related charges and review the related legislation to prevent retaliatory prosecution against journalists for their critical reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. The 13th Istanbul Court of Serious Crimes…
Turkish journalist Barış Pehlivan ordered to return to prison over alleged parole violation
Istanbul, August 9, 2023—Turkish authorities should not force Barış Pehlivan to return to prison for allegedly violating his parole in a 2020 case involving his reporting on a Turkish intelligence officer, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Pehlivan, a columnist for the pro-opposition daily Cumhuriyet, revealed in an August 2 column that he was…
Turkish government official sues 3 newspapers for covering corruption allegations made in parliament
In late August and early September 2021, Turkish Deputy Health Minister Selahattin Aydın filed civil defamation lawsuits against the leftist opposition dailies Cumhuriyet, BirGün, and Evrensel seeking damages over their coverage of corruption allegations made against him in the country’s parliament, according to reports by the independent news website Bianet and by each outlet targeted…
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…