Four media monitoring reports launched by the Independent Communication Network (BIA) in 2019 revealed that all methods to silence critical media were used in 2019. 39 journalists were sentenced to 222 years and one months of imprisonment in total due to “illegal organisation membership” and “willfully aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”; 33 journalists were sentenced to a total of 63 years and 11 months of imprisonment in total within lawsuits of journalism and politics filed against them in 2019. At least seven journalists were convicted of “insulting Erdoğan.”
As the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) penalized TV channels with 57 fines and 24 broadcast bans in 2019 due to news, movies and show broadcasts; advertisement penalties issued by the Press Advertisement Institute became the prominent new style of pressure in 2019. On the other hand, access to 586 online news articles and nine social media accounts were banned. Two media blackouts were issued; 20 books and five newspapers were censored.
22.01.2020
bianet.org