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February 17, 2025 – Turkey –
Turkish authorities have intensified their scrutiny of journalists and media outlets critical of the government, leading to arrests and legal actions that have raised concerns about press freedom in the country.
Halk TV Journalists Detained
On January 28, 2025, Turkish police detained three prominent journalists from the opposition broadcaster Halk TV—Barış Pehlivan, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker. The detentions were part of an investigation into allegations that the journalists had attempted to influence an expert witness in ongoing court cases involving mayors from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The charges against them include “recording and disclosing private conversations” and “attempting to influence an expert witness.” Pehlivan had broadcast a phone call with Satılmış Büyükcanayakın, a court-appointed expert witness, which the prosecutor’s office claims was recorded and shared “without authorization.” Pehlivan stated that he contacted the expert as a journalistic reflex, unaware that the conversation would be aired. Selek and Asker also denied any prior knowledge of the broadcast.
Following their detentions, Pehlivan, Selek, and Asker were brought to Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse for questioning. Selek and Asker were released under judicial control measures, while Pehlivan’s legal process continued. Subsequently, Halk TV’s Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş and Program Coordinator Kürşad Oğuz were also taken to the prosecutor’s office for questioning. Toktaş and Oğuz were later referred to a criminal court with a request for their arrest. The Prosecutor’s Office stated that their involvement was determined based on testimonies from Pehlivan and Asker.
International Reactions
The arrests have drawn criticism from various quarters, including press freedom organizations and political opposition leaders. Bar associations from 52 provinces released a press statement condemning the detentions, emphasizing that since December 22, 2024, 15 journalists have been detained in the country. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the arrest of Halk TV’s Editor-in-Chief, describing it as a political move to silence critical voices.
These developments underscore the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in Turkey and the broader concerns about the state of press freedom in the country.
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