Expression Interrupted

Journalists and academics bear the brunt of the massive crackdown on freedom of expression in Turkey. Scores of them are currently subject to criminal investigations or behind bars. This website is dedicated to tracking the legal process against them.

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 230

Osman Kavala re-arrested one day after being acquitted in Gezi Park trial Journalist Şirin Kabakcı handed down 6-year sentence T24 Editor-in-Chief Doğan Akın stands trial on “aiding a terrorist group”

Doğan Akın’s trial gets under way

Akın, T24’s editor-in-chief, faces the charge of “aiding a terrorist group without being its member” for the portal’s coverage of the Twitter account “Fuat Avni”

Journalist Şirin Kabakcı handed down 6-year sentence

Former Zaman journalist Kabakcı sentenced to 6 years and 3 months for “membership of a terrorist group,” acquitted of “violating the confidentiality of an investigation”

Büyükada trial adjourned until April

After hearing five defendants and some of the defense lawyers, court rules to adjourn the trial, citing lengthy defense statements

Osman Kavala re-arrested after acquittal in Gezi Trial

Osman Kavala was sent back to prison, this time as part of an investigation into coup attempt of 2016

Freedom of Expression and the Press in Turkey – 229

Court acquits Necmiye Alpay, Aslı Erdoğan and Bilge Aykut, separates files of six other defendants in Özgür Gündem trial; journalist Emre Orman sentenced at first hearing of his trial; musician Ferhat

Three acquitted in Özgür Gündem trial

Court rules to separate the files of Eren Keskin, Zana Kaya, İnan Kızılkaya and Kemal Sancılı, granting additional time for their final defense statements

Prosecutor seeks prison sentence for Deniz Yücel

Asking the court to convict Yücel of “terrorism propaganda” and “inciting hatred and animosity,” the prosecutor also requests a criminal complaint against Yücel to be filed on the charge of “insulting

Journalist Emre Orman sentenced at first hearing

Emre Orman was accused of “spreading terrorist group propaganda” over posts he allegedly shared on social media 

Journalist Zehra Özdilek’s trial gets under way

Özdilek is charged with “disclosing the identity of an official assigned in the fight against terrorism” 

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