According to Expression Interrupted’s quarterly report, 103 journalists were tried in 73 cases in the second quarter of 2025. 26 new cases were filed against journalists and 10 investigations were initiated against journalists. During the period, 10 journalists were arrested and 21 journalists were detained. RTÜK fined opposition TV channels a total of 11.2 million TL.
According to the report, journalists were prosecuted mostly on charges of “membership in an illegal organization” (TCK 314/2) and “insult” (TCK 125). “Terrorist organization propaganda” (TMK 7/2), “insulting the President” (TCK 299), “TCK 301” and “slander” also came to the fore.
In the April-June 2025 period, nine journalists were sentenced to a total of 28 years, 3 months and 4 days in prison, one journalist was sentenced to a fine and 15 journalists were acquitted. Police violence, threats and obstructions were also reported in the same period.
RTÜK fined Halk TV, SZC TV, NOW TV and TELE 1 millions of dollars and imposed a 10-day broadcast suspension on Halk TV.
The higher judiciary issued important decisions in favor of freedom of expression. Council of State annulled the ban on audio and video recordings in police interventions. The Constitutional Court set a precedent by ruling a violation of freedom of expression in the cases of Hayko Bağdat and Evrensel newspaper.
https://expressioninterrupted.com/tr/uploader/uploader/ifade-ve-basin-ozgurlugu-gundemi-2025-2
2025-09-11
Expression Interrupted