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September 08, 2025 – Turkey –
Seventeen press freedom and human rights organizations—including the International Press Institute (IPI), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), PEN International, Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF)—have urgently called for the immediate release of Turkish journalist Furkan Karabay, who has endured prolonged pretrial detention for over 100 days as of early September 2025.
Karabay was arrested on May 15, 2025, following a police raid on his Istanbul home. He is now facing multiple charges, including “making targets of those who were tasked to combat terrorism,” “insulting the Turkish President,” and “insulting a public official”—accusations based on his journalistic reporting and social media commentary concerning investigations into opposition figures.
His indictment, finalized on September 5, proposes a prison sentence ranging from six to fifteen years. The CPJ emphasized the severity of the accusations, noting that “‘making targets’ is a dangerous distortion when used to criminalize news coverage.”
Human rights bodies have condemned this extended pretrial detention as a disproportionate punitive response to journalistic activity. The organizations spotlight that detaining journalists long before trial has become a strategy to suppress dissent and press accountability in Turkey.
Karabay’s case is emblematic of wider abuses. His detention follows similar episodes involving journalists Fatih Altaylı and others, highlighting the broader erosion of media freedom in the country.
Critics argue that Karabay’s reporting—focused on corruption and official misconduct—should not count as criminal behavior. Supporters note the importance of defending journalists who expose public interest issues, even under pressure.
Overall, these appeals underscore a dire warning: without swift release and dropping of charges, Turkey’s democratic standing and media plurality will continue to deteriorate. Ensuring press freedom, they assert, is not just an ethical imperative—it is foundational to accountability and transparency.
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