Comedian Deniz Göktaş detained after new show goes viral today. It was an expected result. Mr. Göktaş seemed well prepared for the aftermath. If he ever performs the third act, it will center around his prison days. This time, I asked Grok to round up positive and negative critiques on X about Deniz Göktaş’s … Read more
International Press Institute (IPI), together with press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights organisations, has written to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to raise urgent concerns about the denial of accreditation to independent media in Türkiye seeking to cover the 2026 Ankara Summit. Dear Secretary General Rutte, The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression, … Read more
CPJ’s 2025 record and the new wartime totals The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported in late February 2026 that 2025 was the deadliest year ever recorded for the press, with 129 journalists and media workers killed worldwide since CPJ began collecting data in 1992. According to the same report, Israel was responsible for … Read more
The Beşiktaş District Governor’s Office banned the shows on public morals and public order grounds after an Islamist-led smear campaign, framing the bands as “satanic” and “against societal values.” Official reason The Beşiktaş District Governorate issued a decision canceling the Slaughter To Prevail (10 Feb) and Behemoth (11 Feb) concerts at Zorlu PSM, stating that … Read more
Well, it depends on one and only person… Selahattin Demirtaş, former Co-Chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has faced multiple trials and legal challenges since his arrest in November 2016. The most significant trial, known as the Kobani case, resulted in a severe sentence of 42 years in prison in May 2024. This … Read more
I believe the reasons for Mr. Altaylı’s detainment or arrest are not justified. He should be free, and I think he will be free soon. However, what I will list here is his long-term career of abusing the rights of many sectors of society. Anti-government circles are quick to heroize him, and some Western circles … Read more
International Editors Stand in Solidarity with Turkish Colleagues More than 50 leading international media editors have written an open letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan raising profound concerns about the deteriorating conditions for press freedom in Turkey in the run up to the elections this weekend. Friday 30 October 2015 The letter and a … Read more
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has launched a public consultation on the planned EU guidelines on Freedom of expression. http://edri.org/files/answering_guide_eeas.pdf
Panel approves Uludere report despite opposition?s objection from Hurriyet Daily News Parliament?s Human Rights Examination Commission has approved a report drafted by a subcommission. Another list, again with journalists from Hurriyet Daily News For a long time, it has been the case of ?journalists under arrest? that has been used as a reference. Armenian … Read more
Promised constitutional and other legal reforms did not occur. Instead, the right to freedom of expression was threatened and protesters faced increased police violence. Thousands of prosecutions brought under flawed anti-terrorism laws routinely failed fair trial standards. Bomb attacks claimed the lives of civilians. No progress was made in recognizing the right to conscientious objection … Read more
Eight Soldiers ‘Suicide’ per Month from Bianet :: English Minister of National Defense İsmet Yılmaz answered the parliamentary question of CHP: ?934 military people committed to suicide in last 10 years? 1 Million People from İzmir Platform held a public demonstration against the thermal power plants yesterday and many parties, unions and non-governmental organizations participated the … Read more
A Turkish band, REDD, put the models of imprisoned journalists Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener on the stage recently. photo source. Strasbourg, 12 July 2011 CommDH(2011)25 Original version REPORT by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Following his visit to Turkey, from 27 to 29 April 2011 Freedom of expression … Read more
Orhan Pamuk to pay compensation for his words, court decides by Milliyet Nobel Prize recipient Orhan Pamuk will pay 6,000 liras in total compensation to five people for writing in 2005, ‘The Turks have killed 30,000 Kurds and 1 million Armenians in this land.’ Legal Landscape of 2010 Dominated by Anti-Terror Law According to data … Read more
Everyday the state of free speech in Turkey goes for worse… Yesterday’s police ambushes are in the first page of many newspaper. On the other hand, pro-government dailies such as Zaman, Yeni Şafak, Star did not think this was a major issue… Main Turkish opposition harshly criticizes raid against unpublished book from Hurriyet Dailynews … Read more
A very good comparative post: Freedom of speech in Turkey, 1994-2010 by istanbulnotes Last week?s release of the 2010 edition of the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index made for more uncomfortable Turkish reading. Turkey was placed in 138th position in a list of 175 countries, down from 99th position in 2002 when … Read more