August in Turkey: Journalists Face Assault, Legal Action, and Press Censorship

September 01, 2025 – Turkey –

In August 2025, Turkish journalists encountered escalating threats, including physical assaults, legal prosecutions, and media censorship, according to a report from the Stockholm Center for Freedom. The report highlights the deteriorating environment for press freedom in the country.

Two journalists were physically assaulted during this period, signaling a dangerous climate for those practicing investigative or critical reporting. One particularly alarming incident involved an armed attack targeting the Izmir bureau of the left-wing newspaper Evrensel, indicating not just intimidation but outright violence against media infrastructure.

Censorship also surged in August. Journalists continue to face investigations and criminal prosecutions—often brought under vaguely defined anti-terrorism and defamation laws—which have become tools for stifling dissent. This trend is rooted in a broader framework that criminalizes critical journalism under the pretext of protecting the state or public order.

Indeed, Turkey remains one of the world’s most hostile environments for journalists. Reporters Without Borders recently ranked the country near the bottom of the global press freedom index. Journalists covering sensitive topics—such as anti-government protests, secularism, or religious extremism—are particularly vulnerable to intimidation, arrest, or violent retaliation.

In addition to physical threats and censorship, the legal environment furthers this erosion of press independence. Broad anti-terror legislation and criminal defamation laws empower authorities to pursue prosecutions that stretch the boundaries of free expression—especially when reporting on political figures or contentious issues such as the Gülen movement.

These August incidents reflect deeper systemic challenges: media plurality is shrinking, self-censorship is becoming the norm, and the journalism profession is under increasing siege. The Stockholm Center for Freedom’s report is a stark reminder that, unless addressed, Turkey’s press freedoms could face irreversible decline.

Reference – 

Journalists in Turkey faced assault, prosecution and censorship in August: report