In Turkey, 5 Halk TV journalists face trial for influencing judiciary with broadcast
Istanbul, March 3, 2025— Turkish authorities should free Halk TV editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş and drop the charges against him and four colleagues, whose trial is due to open on March 4, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. An Istanbul court arrested Toktas on January 26 after pro-opposition Halk TV broadcast a conversation between its…
Turkish journalist Suat Toktaş arrested following broadcast
Istanbul, January 31, 2025—Turkish authorities should release Halk TV’s editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş, who was arrested this week after airing an interview with an expert court witness, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. “Suat Toktaş’ arrest and the detaining of the other Halk TV personnel is a political move by Turkish authorities to silence critical…
Police detain multiple journalists in house raids across Turkey
Istanbul, November 27, 2024—Turkish authorities should stop treating journalists like terrorists by raiding their homes and detaining them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. “Turkish authorities once more raided the homes of multiple journalists in the middle of the night, in order to portray them as dangerous criminals, and detained them without offering any…
In Turkey, 3 journalists detained for ‘disinformation,’ 1 jailed, 3 others under investigation
Istanbul, November 2, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Turkish authorities on Thursday to immediately release journalists Tolga Şardan and Cengiz Erdinç, drop “disinformation” charges against them, and overturn an order for editor Dinçer Gökçe to read and summarize books about his profession. In two separate cases on Wednesday, police in the Turkish capital of…
Journalists attacked, critical outlets investigated in Turkey election aftermath
Istanbul, May 30, 2023–Turkish authorities should investigate multiple incidents of journalists being attacked or obstructed from reporting during the country’s recent election, and the media watchdog RTÜK should treat all outlets equally regardless of political stance, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. During the second round of presidential elections on Sunday, May 28, at…
CPJ joins statement calling for Turkey’s media watchdog to stop punishing broadcasters over critical reporting
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 20 other press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights organizations as signatories of a joint statement urging the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), Turkey’s media regulator, to end its punishments of broadcasters for critical reporting. The statement said RTÜK recently fined broadcasters FOX TV Turkey, Halk…
Turkish media watchdog fines broadcasters for criticizing earthquake response
Istanbul, February 22, 2023 – In response to news reports that Turkey’s media regulator penalized three broadcasters for their critical coverage of the government’s response to recent devastating earthquakes that hit the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Critical journalism during a time of mourning for the tens of thousands of…
Istanbul police beat, tear gas, detain journalists while breaking up public protest
Istanbul, June 2, 2022 – Turkish authorities should take concrete steps to prevent police violence toward members of the press in the country after several journalists were beaten and detained while covering a recent protest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday evening, at least six journalists were detained by Istanbul police while…
Turkish journalist Levent Gültekin beaten by a mob
Istanbul, March 9, 2021 – Turkish authorities must investigate the mob assault on journalist Levent Gültekin and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Gültekin, a columnist for online newspaper Diken and a commentator on Halk TV, both outlets critical of the Turkish government, was attacked by a large group of people…
Police attack journalists with tear gas and rubber bullets at Istanbul protest
Istanbul, February 3, 2021 — Turkish authorities should immediately investigate and prosecute law enforcement officers who attacked members of the press covering recent protests in Istanbul, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Istanbul police in the city’s Kadıköy district fired tear gas at journalists covering student protests against a new university rector, and…