A report published by MLSA revealed that Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code targeted journalists the most between 2024 and 2026. After examining 21 cases and 39 court hearings, the association noted that while many cases resulted in acquittals, the lengthy trials, risk of detention, and legal pressure effectively amounted to a de facto punishment. The report emphasized that the censorship law was used more to suppress news, commentary, and criticism than to combat disinformation.
March 16, 2026
bianet