Turkey: prison sentence for journalist Bülent Mumay is unacceptable

This verdict represents a severe assault on press freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey, further eroding the foundations of democratic discourse in the country.

We urgently call on Turkish authorities to end their harassment of critical journalists. Mumay's case is emblematic of the systematic repression of independent journalism in Turkey. Mumay's only legal recourse is to file an individual application to the Constitutional Court, which should overturn this ruling.

The chronology leading to this verdict is deeply alarming:

• On May 6, 2023, Mumay was sentenced  to 20 months in prison for his social media posts about a pro-government construction company's seizure of Istanbul Municipality's subway funds through a court during the period of time when the ruling party headed the municipality. The journalist appealed the sentence, but the appeal was rejected.

• A Turkish court ordered to block access to his tweet , which alleged that the contractors were government-affiliated, following a complaint from Metin Güneş, the owner of the company.

• On May 20, 2024, further attempts to censor his reporting were made when a Turkish court ordered Twitter to remove  another tweet about the same issue. 

• On August 20, 2024, an appeals court upheld the 20-month prison sentence . The court also ordered the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to block access to news reports  about the upheld prison sentence. At this point, Mumay's only remaining legal recourse is to file an individual application to the Constitutional Court.

The charges against Mumay, which include "illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data," are a thinly veiled attempt to silence critical journalism. The verdict, coupled with repeated censorship, demonstrates the escalating pressure on press freedom in Turkey. It sends a chilling message to journalists seeking to report on matters of public interest, especially those involving politically connected entities.

Mumay’s case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment and censorship targeting Turkey’s independent media. It highlights the urgent need for international attention to protect press freedom and the public's right to information.

Ongoing Harassment of Independent Journalists

The persecution of Bülent Mumay exemplifies a widespread campaign of intimidation against journalists in Turkey. The government employs a persistent approach to stifling investigative reporting, utilizing legal intimidation, censorship, and financial coercion. Recent incidents emphasize the gravity of this trend:

Legal Persecution: BirGün journalists İsmail Arı  and Timur Soykan  face investigations for their books on organized crime and corruption, with authorities seeking fines and book seizures in what are clear attempts to curb investigative journalism.

Censorship: A Turkish court ordered the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to block access  to a news report by journalist İsmail Saymaz on the controversial appointment of Assoc. Prof. Miyase Koyuncu Kaya as Turkey’s Education Attaché in The Hague, Netherlands, replacing her husband.

Financial Pressure: The systematic censorship of investigative journalism by the government has created an environment where even criminals feel emboldened to target journalists. A striking example is the lawsuit  filed by drug lord Duax Ngakuru against Timur Soykan and Kırmızı Kedi Publishing, demanding 350,000 TL in damages and the withdrawal of the book Baron Invasion, which describes the activities of crime syndicates in Turkey and explains why global mafias are flocking to Turkey. This showcases the financial tools being used to intimidate journalists and publishers.

These cases illustrate the multifaceted assault on press freedom in Turkey. Journalists covering matters of public interest face legal consequences, censorship, and financial ruin. This coordinated campaign endangers democratic principles and threatens the public's right to be informed.

The undersigned organizations demand that instead of punishing journalists for informing the public, Turkey’s judiciary should hold accountable those violating press freedom in the country. It is essential that journalists be allowed to perform their vital role in society without fear of retribution.

Signed:

International Press Institute (IPI)
ARTICLE 19 Europe
Articolo 21
Association of Journalists, Ankara
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Foreign Media Association Turkey (FMA)
IFEX
Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
PEN International
PEN America
PEN Canada
PEN Norway
Platform for Independent Journalism (P24)
Progressive Journalists Association (ÇGD)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Swedish PEN
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Turkey's Journalists' Union (TGS)

This statement was produced as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors, and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries.