European Parliament Warns on Shrinking Media Freedom in Turkey

October 11, 2024 – Turkey –

The European Parliament passed a resolution highlighting a concerning deterioration in press freedom in Turkey, as the judiciary continues granting prison sentences to journalists and activists. The motion condemned what it called systemic suppression of independent media, irregular prosecutions under vaguely defined laws, and politically motivated censorship actions.

The resolution is timely: 2024 marked “a lost year” for Turkish media, with journalist associations reporting a sharp uptick in judicial harassment and sentencing. According to Index on Censorship, 36 journalists received convictions in the year leading up to May 2025—resulting in nearly 100 years of cumulative prison time—while another 53 faced acquittals after enduring long trials.

This crackdown isn’t limited to courtrooms. Prosecutors frequently invoke infamous laws like Article 301 (insulting the Turkish state or institutions) and anti-terror statutes to detain, try, and jail journalists for routine reporting. Law enforcement has also turned physical, assaulting and detaining local journalists covering protests, especially after the March 2025 arrest of Istanbul’s mayor. The situation has worsened during the current wave of anti-government demonstrations, with at least 11 journalists detained during protests and police violently breaking up media coverage.

As a result, Turkey’s ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index dropped to 159th out of 180 nations—the “very serious” category. The decline reflects not just legal persecution but also intensified online censorship: websites are blocked, social media accounts restricted, and broadcasters fined or suspended.

The EP resolution implored Turkey to repeal or amend oppressive laws, release journalists jailed over their reporting, and rein in police actions against media professionals. It emphasized that, as an EU candidate and Council of Europe member, Turkey must uphold democratic standards and the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

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EP warns of deterioration of media freedom in Turkey as more journalists receive sentences