Turkey imprisoned dozens of journalists in 2020

Some 79 journalists were detained in Turkey in 2020, Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association revealed in a press statement on Jan. 4, noting another 24 arrests. The association said a total of 43 journalists were sentenced to 150 years and 15 days, and issued a total of 56,310 Turkish liras in judicial fines.

Monday January 04 2021 03:48 pm

A group of protesters hold signs that read "Journalism is not a crime."

Duvar English

Some 79 journalists were detained in Turkey in 2020, while 24 journalists were arrested and 19 journalists were assaulted, Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association (DFG) revealed in a press statement on Jan. 4.

A total of 43 journalists were sentenced to 150 years and 15 days, and issued a total 56,310 Turkish liras in judicial fines.

"Even journalists who aren't incarcerated live in a state of detention. Most of their time is spent waiting in courthouse hallways or giving statements about their reporting," DFG Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu said.

Seventeen journalists were threatened and accused of espionage during the year, while 12 journalists were prevented from following up on news stories.

Meanwhile, 54 journalists were investigated and 53 of them became defendants of lawsuits.

"Press workers who refused to enter the government's media pool, who tried to be a voice for others and conducted factual honest journalism were targeted," Müftüoğlu said.

The oppression of journalists points to faulty government policy, as targeting the press is effectively an attempt to close the eyes and ears of the public, Müftüoğlu added.

"They're trying to create a uniform journalism."

Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) blocked access to a staggering 1,960 news stories, the association said.

"RTÜK towers over the media like the Sword of Damocles," the co-chair said.

Kurdish journalists face an additional layer of difficulty because of their ethnicity, Müftüoğlu said, adding that they face numerous barriers to their work in daily life.