2013 Media in Turkey: Arrests, Assaults, Interventions, Lay Offs

(Originally published by Bianet on the 18th of February)

Among Turkey’s roughly 10,000 official press card holders and other thousands who are actively on the job, only 1 percent is currently under the umbrella of a union. 

With more than 2,500 newspapers, 250 TV Channels, Turkey’s vibrant media has failed to improve its editorial independence and investigative journalism due to anti-democratic laws and editorial interventions from the government and capital-related lobbies. 

2013 became a year where 59 journalists and 23 publishers were jailed, where journalists were arrested or  subjected to violence by the police with impunity, where reporters and columnists laid off one by one or en masse, and where editorial interventions became so visible. 

59 journalists and 23 publishers welcomed 2014 behind bars in Turkey. 56 journalists and all publishers were jailed  due to Turkey’s Anti Terror Act (TMK) and Turkish Penal Code’s Articles related to “terror organizations”. 

In 2013, 56 individuals including 38 journalists and media workers were convicted of charges like “being an illegal organization member”, “being an illegal organization leader” and “collaborating with a terrorist organization”. The aforementioned defendants were ordered to serve the following sentences: life sentence with no parole (1), life sentence (2) and various prison sentences with a total of 2,021 year 6 months and 7 days of prison, as well as 2,626,600 liras.

186 journalists assaulted, 143 unemployed 

A total of 186 journalists, 1 media outlet and 2 internet sites have been subjected to attacks. 

While 15 verbal attacks or threat were reported, police violence left 153 journalists injured and 39 detained during Gezi Protests between May 27 and September 30. 

In 2013, 106 journalists, writers and media workers were laid off and 37 forced to quit their jobs due to reasons associated with media mogul’s decisions, Gezi Protests and AKP - Gülen movement feud. (*)

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Turkey guilty in 40 cases (2 by journalists, 27 by individuals, 11 by publishing outlets), ordering Turkey to pay 198,935 euros for damages.  

bianet’s Quarterly Media Monitoring Reports set chronicles of the progress Turkey has made regarding press and expression freedom.  

34 jailed journalists from Kurdish press 

59 journalists and 23 publishers welcomed 2014 behind bars in Turkey. 56 journalists and all publishers were jailed  due to Turkey’s Anti Terror Act (TMK) and Turkish Penal Code’s Articles related to “terror organizations”.

Turkey’s 59 jailed journalists have been standing trial for the following cases: KCK, PKK and DYG (34), DHKP-C (9), Ergenekon (6), MLKP (4), IBDA-C (1), Direniş Hareket (1) and unknown organization case (2). While 2 journalists have been jailed due to sentences related to Gezi Resistance protests, another journalist is behind bars for “espionage”. 

The current judicial situation of jailed journalists are as follows: convicted (25), pending trial (24) and awaiting first trial day due to incomplete indictment (10). 

The distribution of jailed Kurdish media workers are as follows: Dicle News Agency (9), Azadiya Welat (9), Özgür Gündem (8) and Özgür Halk (2). 

The distribution of their current status are as follows: Dicle News Agency (3 convicted, 5 pending trial, 1 awaiting indictment), Azadiya Welat (6 convicted, 3 pending trial), Özgür Gündem (8 pending trial), Özgür Halk (1 convicted, 1 pending trial). 

While the number of jailed journalists was 104 in 2011, it went down to 68 in 2012 after Turkey’s third row of judicial reforms and the intensive coverage of “common and arbitrary arrests” in the media. However, the issue of long arrest terms with no verdict is still waiting for a resolution. 

Attacks quadrupled since Gezi 

In 2013, 186 journalists, 1 media outlet and 2 internet sites have been subject to attacks. 15 verbal attacks or threat were reported. 

In 2013, 12 internet sites, 6 movies, 5 Facebook pages, 3 newspapers, 1 postcard, 1 concert, 1 music video have been censured. The total number of censor reports reached 31. Accreditation bans were applied widely by the authorities with 7 newspapers and 3 TVs only in one incident. While Bram Vermeulen, a journalist from Holland, have been admitted to Turkey with difficulties, some journalists have been barred from reporting the maintenance delays of Marmaray project.

In 2012, 46 attacks have been reported to media workers through physical, verbal or social media means. On the other hand, 1 concert,  panels were banned and raids occurred in 4 newspapers and 3 news agencies.  

“Defamation” and “Insulting PM” penalties 

In 2013, 11 individuals including 8 journalists have been convicted of “violating individual rights” or “defamation”, ordering a total of 3 years 7 months and 7 days of prison sentences and 59,700 Turkish liras. 

Following PM’s complaints or prosecutor decisions, 6 individuals including 3 journalists and 1 newspaper have been ordered to stand trial for insulting PM Erdogan. They have been convicted to serve a total of 11 months and 20 days of prison and pay 43,500 Turkish liras. New complaints have also been submitted for 3 journalists. 

In 2012, 33 individuals including 12 journalists have been convicted of “defamation” and they were ordered to serve a total of 10 years 7 months 16 days of prison and pay a sum of 197,180 Turkish liras. A newspaper was ordered to pay 4,000 Turkish liras. 

Again in 2012, 10 individuals including 1 journalist have been convicted of insulting PM Erdoğan. While they received a sum of 3 years 8 months 7 days of prison, they were also ordered to pay a sum of 89,080 Turkish liras. 

“Terrorism” related verdicts surged  

In 2013, 56 individuals including 38 journalists and media workers were convicted of charges like “being an illegal organization member”, “being an illegal organization leader” and “collaborating with a terrorist organization” by Turkey’s Special Duty High Criminal Courts. 

The aforementioned defendants were ordered to serve the following sentences: life sentence with no parole (1), life sentence (2) and various prison sentences with a total of 2,021 year 6 months and 7 days of prison, as well as 2,626,600 liras.

In 2012, out of 18 convicted journalists, 4 journalists were ordered to serve for life and 13 remaining to a sum of 147 years 7 months of prison. 

Prosecutors, on the other hand, have issued 43 investigations against Turkey’s Kurdish deputies from Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and non-affiliated. 

94 journalists and writers laid off 

In 2013, 94 journalists, writers and media workers were laid off and 37 forced to quit their jobs due to reasons associated with media mogul’s decisions, Gezi Protests and AKP - Gülen movement feud.

Prominent journalists Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Hasan Cemal, Yavuz Baydar, Nazlı Ilıcak, Ayşenur Aslan, Mustafa Sönmez, Amberin Zaman, Ruhat Mengü were among those who were laid off.

Jailed journalists down to 59 

At the end of 2013, 59 journalists and 23 publishers were in prison. 34 out of 59 journalists and all publishers were from the Kurdish media. 

In 2013, 49 journalists and media workers have been detained. 

At the end of 2012, there were 68 convicted/arrested journalists and 27 convicted/arrested journalists in Turkey. 

ECHR verdicts on the rise since 2011 

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Turkey guilty in 40 cases (2 by journalists, 27 by individuals, 11 by publishing outlets), ordering Turkey to pay 198,935 euros for damages. 

In 2012, ECHR found Turkey guilty in 10 cases (6 by journalists, 3 by individuals, 1 by institution), ordering Turkey to pay 78,581 euros for damages. 

In 2011, the total sum of damages were 105,000 euros. 

Higher Board of Radio and Television 

Turkey’s Higher Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) have issued 324 warnings, 1,208 fines to various TV Channels, and 124 warnings and 92 fines to various radios. In 2012, RTÜK issued 603 warnings and 290 fines to various televisions and radios in Turkey. 3 programs were also suspended. (EÖ/HK/BM)

(*) Ahmet Böken, Ahmet Çavuşoğlu, Alaz Kuseyri, Ali İhsan Varol, Ali Kırca, Alpbuğra Bahadır Gültekin, Alper Görmüş, Altan Burgucu, Amberin Zaman, Atilla Dorsay, Ayça Örer, Ayhan Bölükbaşı, Aylin Duruoğlu, Ayşegül Arıkan, Ayşenur Arslan, Balçiçek İlter, Banu Kurt, Bekir Ağırdır, Burak Ersemiz, Burcu Bulut, Burcu Pırtıl dahil yedi Vatan çalışanı, Bülent Kördemirci, Cahit Koytak, Can Sarıcan, Cem Şengül, Ceren Kenar, Cihan Aktaş, Çiğdem Anad, Çiğdem Toker, Demiray Oral, Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat, Deniz Alphan, Derya Sazak, Doğan Akın, Ece Öziş, Ediz Alıç, Efkan Bucak, Elçin Yahşi, Elif Ekinci, Erol Katırcıoğlu, Ferhat Kentel, Feyzi Hepşenkal, Funda Tuna, Gizem Karakış , Gülengül Altınsay, Gürbüz Özaltınlı, Gürkan Hacır, Güven Özalp, Hakan Kırboğa, Hakim Türkmen, Halil Berktay, Hasan Ali Sezer, Hasan Cemal, Haydaran Çelik, Hicran Aygün, Hidayet Şefkatli Tuksal, Hilal Ergenekon, Hilmi Hacaloğlu, Hüsnü Mahalli, İbrahim Güneş, İbrahim Haselçin, İclal Aydın, iki TRT çalışanı, İsmail Küçükkaya, İsmail Sağıroğlu, İsmet Özkul, Kurtuluş Tayiz, Kürşat Bumin, Markar Esayan, Mehmet Ali Gökçe, Mehmet Bilber, Mehmet Ocaktan, Mehmet Özdoğan, Melih Altınok, Memet Güler, Merve Türkay, Mesut Gengeç, Mesut Hasan Benli, Metin Karaaslan, Miray Çimen, Mirgün Cabas, Mithat Sancar, Murat Sabuncu, Mustafa Mutlu, Mustafa Sönmez, 12 İMC TV çalışanı, Müjgan Halis, Nafiz Akyüz, Naim Dilmener, Nazlı Ilıcak, Nihal Kemaloğlu, Nilay Örnek, Nilgün Balkaç, Oktay Özdabakoğlu, Oral Çalışlar, Osman Özsoy, Oya Baydar, Ozan Pezek, Özgür Aktaş, Özgür Uzun, Özlem Akarsu Çelik, Pakize Suda, Rahşan Gülşan, Rıfat Başaran, Roni Marguiles, Ruhat Mengi, Sedat Aras, Semra Kardeşoğlu, Serkan Ağca, Sevim Gözay, Seyhan Sevinç, Süreyya Üstünel, Şirin Sever, Tahir Özyurtseven, Tarık Işık, Tayfun Ertan, Tijen Bolulu, Tolga Akıner, Tuba Atav, Tuğçe Tatari, Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Tuncer Köseoğlu, Ufuk Kaan Altın, Uluç Özcü, Vahap Coşkun, Yavuz Baydar, Yıldıray Oğur, Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Yurdagül Şimşek, Zeynel Koç, Zülfü Livaneli.