Joint NGO Statement Condemns Turkey’s Decision to Continue Detention of Osman Kavala
We, the undersigned freedom of expression and media freedom organizations, strongly condemn the court’s interim decision on the Gezi Park trial to continue the detention of civil society leading… More
Gezi Park trial’s second hearing confirms lack of rule of law in Turkey
We, the undersigned human rights and freedom of expression organizations, condemn the interim judicial decision taken in the second hearing of the Gezi Park trial. The indictment accuses 16… More
PEN America Calls for Reversal of Prison Sentences Imposed on Turkish Filmmakers Ertuğrul Mavioğlu and Çayan Demirel for Documentary Bakur
“Criminalizing Ertuğrul Mavioğlu and Çayan Demirel’s work is a serious blow for artistic freedom of expression in Turkey. Artists must have the freedom to explore any subject matter, regardless… More
PEN America Calls for Acquittals Ahead of Verdict Expected in Trial of Prominent Turkish Writers. Journalists and Rights Defenders
“The trial of these prominent writers, journalists, and rights defenders, concocted on the basis of spurious and politicized charges, has been a farce from the very start, intended to stifle… More
PEN America Views New Court Ruling Overturning Prison Sentences for 3 Turkish Journalists as a “Promising” Development on Free Expression
“The convictions and life sentences handed down to all three journalists were unjust from the very start, and it is promising to see that the appeals court has overturned… More
Turkish think-tank report is dangerous escalation in harassment of journalists
A joint statement by 21 human rights and freedom of expression organizations condemns a Turkish pro-government think-tank’s report that accuses leading international media of being biased against the government… More
Turkey: Gezi Park case must be dismissed
PEN Centers in fourteen countries today joined PEN International and Norwegian PEN in calling for the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Osman Kavala and Yiğit Aksakoğlu and… More
Turkey: Free Ayşe Düzkan
Writer, journalist and publisher Ayşe Düzkan is serving an 18-month prison sentence for ‘making propaganda for a terrorist organisation’. She is one of 56 journalists and activists who took… More
Joint Statement on Respect for Foreign Media Outlets’ Independence in Turkey
Two German journalists were compelled to leave Turkey on Sunday, 10 March 2019, after their press accreditations were not renewed for 2019 without any explanation. Jörg Brase, a journalist… More
May Featured Case: Çayan Demirel and Ertuğrul Mavioğlu
This case is one more sign of the growing crisis for Turkish arts and culture in recent years. The Turkish government’s sprawling crackdown on its real and suspected opponents,… More