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March 25, 2025 – Turkey –
Turkish authorities detained more than 1,100 people across the country amid widespread protests sparked by political and economic grievances. The demonstrations intensified in Istanbul, where security forces cracked down heavily, including the arrest of journalists covering the events. These developments highlight escalating repression under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government.
The protests initially arose in response to rising inflation, unemployment, and perceived government corruption, but quickly took on a broader political dimension. Erdoğan blamed the opposition parties for stirring unrest, labeling them as “evil” forces attempting to destabilize the country. In a sweeping response, Turkish police conducted mass arrests, detaining protesters, opposition activists, and journalists alike.
Among those detained were several journalists accused of “insulting the president” or “inciting unrest” through their reporting. Human rights organizations have condemned these charges as politically motivated attempts to suppress freedom of expression and intimidate the press. Since 2023, hundreds of cases against journalists for insulting Erdoğan have been documented, reflecting a climate of fear that stifles critical media voices.
The crackdown has drawn widespread criticism from international human rights groups, which accuse the Turkish government of using legal and security tools to silence dissent and curtail independent journalism. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for the immediate release of all detained protesters and journalists and urged Turkey to respect constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free speech.
The events in Istanbul are emblematic of a broader pattern of authoritarianism in Turkey, where political opponents, activists, and media personnel increasingly face harassment, arrests, and prosecution. This tightening grip threatens the country’s democratic institutions and its commitments to human rights.
As protests continue and the government maintains a hardline stance, the situation raises pressing concerns about the future of civil liberties and press freedom in Turkey, signaling a deepening political crisis under Erdoğan’s leadership.
Reference –
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/05/20/prosecutions-insulting-president-continue-turkiye
