Turkey’s Justice Minister Denies Jailing Journalists Amid Media Crackdown

March 19, 2025 – Turkey –

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç asserted that no journalists in Turkey are imprisoned for their journalistic activities, despite mounting evidence and international criticism highlighting a significant decline in press freedom. Tunç’s comments, made during a meeting with media representatives in Ankara, were reported by the state-run Anadolu news agency. He claimed that Turkey had made substantial progress in press freedom over the past 23 years under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). However, his statement contradicts reports from press freedom organizations and media monitoring groups, which have documented numerous cases of journalists facing legal actions, detentions, and imprisonment related to their work.

According to the Expression Interrupted project, a media freedom initiative, the number of journalists in Turkish prisons rose from 26 to 34 between October and December 2024. During the same period, approximately 200 journalists appeared in court across 102 trials, with 11 resulting in convictions and sentences totaling nearly 25 years in prison. These figures underscore the challenging legal landscape faced by media professionals in the country.

International press freedom organizations, including the International Press Institute (IPI), have expressed grave concerns about the escalating suppression of journalists in Turkey. In January 2025 alone, at least nine journalists were arrested, six were sentenced to prison, and 23 faced investigations. These actions are seen as part of a broader pattern of arbitrary detentions and judicial measures aimed at silencing critical voices in the media.

Despite the government’s assertions, the reality on the ground suggests a troubling trend for press freedom in Turkey. The increasing number of journalists facing legal challenges and imprisonment raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to upholding freedom of expression and the press. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging Turkish authorities to respect media independence and ensure that journalists can operate without fear of retribution.

Reference – 

Turkey’s justice minister denies jailing journalists for their work amid media crackdown

Turkey’s justice minister denies jailing journalists for their work amid media crackdown