PEN America Raises Concerns Over Free Expression and Free Press Protections Ahead of Runoff Elections in Türkiye
(NEW YORK) – With the first round of voting in Turkish elections concluded and ahead of an expected runoff May 28, PEN America calls on Turkish authorities to release… More
Abdulselam Kilgi Selamo
A scriptwriter and poet, Kilgi was arrested and detained at Izmir Airport on his way back to Türkiye from Germany. Sources say that the arrest was related to a… More
Ahmet Turan Alkan
A columnist for Zaman newspaper and literary writer, Alkan has been facing harassment for his written work since 2016. He was sentenced to 2 years and six months in… More
Arzu Demir
A literary writer and journalist, Demir was sentenced to 6 years in prison for writing two books titled “Dağın Kadın Hali (Womanly State of the Mountain)” and “Devrimin Rojava… More
Mehmet Sahin
Sahin, a Kurdish columnist, has faced ongoing persecution since 2016 in job dismissal and lawsuits. In June 2022, Sahin was arrested along with 15 other Kurdish journalists in Diyarbakir… More
Azad Zal Mehmet Güngõmüs
A writer, former journalist, translator, and Kurdish-language teacher, Zal was released from prison in 2004 after spending 12 years in prison. He was arrested again on June 30, 2020… More
Kaan Göktas
Goktas is journalist and online commentator who writes on cybersecurity. He was sentenced to two years in prison in 2021 for sharing a poem by Ottoman poet Sunbulzade Vehi… More
Ender Imrek
A columnist and political party founder and leader, Imrek has been legally harassed and imprisoned multiple times throughout the years. He went on trial in October 2022 for insulting… More
Ergün Poyraz
A literary writer, Poyraz is best known for his controversial views on the ruling AKP party and the faith-based Gülen movement. He wrote a best seller titled "The Children… More
Enver Aysever
A sociologist and former columnist for the independent newspaper Cumhuriyet, Aysever was arrested in March 2021 for "provoking the public to hatred and hostility” by tweeting a political cartoon… More
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