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October 02, 2025 – Turkey –
Veteran Turkish journalist Fatih Altaylı, arrested in June 2025 over allegations he threatened President Erdoğan, has refused to be silenced. From his cell, Altaylı continues to shape public debate through a form of “prison journalism,” issuing commentary and engaging in political reporting via letters funneled through his legal team to his YouTube show.
Though confined in the high-security Silivri (now Marmara Prison) facility, Altaylı maintains an active editorial presence. His assistant reads out his missives to a broadcast audience, and other elements of his prior show have been retooled under the title “Fatih Altaylı Cannot Comment.”
One striking example of his resolute reporting: while imprisoned, Altaylı conducted a written interview with fellow detainee Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Istanbul mayor, also on trial. The exchange—coordinated through lawyers—underscores his commitment to conveying political narratives, even from behind bars.
Altaylı’s arrest followed a remark on his YouTube commentary show about Turkey’s history of deposition of rulers, which prosecutors interpreted as a threat. He vehemently disputes the charges, and his supporters—including the Istanbul Bar Association—argue the case violates basic free‐expression norms.
Observers say Altaylı’s case reflects broader pressures on independent voices in Turkey: many of the country’s major media outlets are government-aligned or under pressure, prompting many dissenting journalists to turn to digital channels and creative methods to report amid censorship.
Even in confinement, Altaylı’s voice provokes debate and challenges restrictions on the press. His evolving model—what peers call prison journalism—signals a deeply symbolic stand against enforced silence.
Reference –
https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/a-turkish-journalist-breaks-new-ground-from-behind-bars/
