Mehmet Altan
In September 2016, authorities detained Altan and his brother Ahmet for allegedly giving subliminal messages "suggestive" of the July coup attempt during a television panel the night prior. Though… More
Çayan Demirel
Award-winning filmmaker Demirel was sentenced in 2019 to nearly 5 years in prison for “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” after screening Bakur, a film he co-directed with Ertuğrul Mavioğlu,… More
Hrant Dink
In January 2007, Dink was murdered in Istanbul by a 17-year-old Turkish nationalist with the help of police. Prior to his death, Dink was an outspoken critic of Türkiye’s… More
Zehra Doğan
In July 2016, Doğan was arrested for creating a painting of Turkish city Nusaybin bombarded by state security forces. In 2017, she was sentenced to nearly three years in… More
Aslı Erdoğan
Novelist and occasional columnist for pro-Kurdish Özgür Gündem, Erdoğan was detained after the 2016 coup attempt. Conditionally released four months later, she escaped to Germany. In February 2020, she… More
Nazli Ilıcak
In 2018, columnist Ilıcak was given a life sentence for “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” and terrorism. Her verdict was later overturned and she was released. In December… More
Ertuğrul Mavioğlu
Veteran journalist Mavioğlu was sentenced in 2019 to nearly 5 years in prison for “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” after screening Bakur, a film he co-directed with Çayan Demirel,… More
Ahmet Nesin
Nesin, a writer involved in free expression issues in Türkiye, was arrested after standing in solidarity with and serving as a 'guest editor' for Özgür Gündem, a pro-Kurdish newspaper… More
Erol Önderoğlu
Önderoğlu, a journalist, activist, and correspondent for Reporters Without Borders, was arrested after standing in solidarity with and serving as a 'guest editor' for Özgür Gündem, a pro-Kurdish newspaper… More
J.S. Tissainayagam
In August 2009, writer and journalist Tissainayagam was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labor under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for “causing communal disharmony” with reporting on… More