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June 02, 2025 – Turkey –
Turkish journalist Elif Akgül has been released after spending 101 days in pretrial detention at Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison. Her release follows a court decision prompted by an appeal from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).
Akgül was arrested on February 18, 2025, during a coordinated operation targeting the People’s Democratic Congress (HDK), a civil platform associated with pro-Kurdish and leftist movements. She was formally imprisoned on February 21 on allegations of “strong suspicion of committing a crime” due to her purported links with the HDK.
Press freedom organizations have condemned her detention, asserting that Akgül was targeted for attending HDK meetings in her capacity as a journalist. The Coalition for Women in Journalism criticized the criminalization of journalism under the guise of security concerns, labeling it an attack on press freedom.
During her imprisonment, Akgül described her detention as punishment not just for her journalism but for her actions as a citizen advocating for press freedom. She highlighted the challenges of staying informed behind bars, noting the near-total absence of access to independent news.
Her release comes amid broader concerns about press freedom in Turkey. According to the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), 23 journalists and media workers are currently imprisoned under spurious charges, reflecting an alarming escalation against press freedom in the country.
The European Parliament’s 2025 progress report on Turkey specifically named Akgül among journalists arrested in February, condemning the repression of press freedom and stating that these journalists were targeted for their work in the field of human rights.
Akgül’s release is seen as part of a recent trend, with multiple journalists imprisoned due to the HDK investigation being released over the past week. This easing is perceived as a result of ongoing peace negotiations between the Turkish state and the Kurdish PKK.
While Akgül’s release is a positive development, press freedom advocates continue to call for the release of all journalists detained under similar circumstances and for the protection of journalistic work in Turkey.
Reference –
https://bianet.org/haber/journalist-elif-akgul-to-be-released-after-101-days-in-prison-308001
