Judicial harassment, physical attacks, economic pressure, and growing digital restrictions: independent journalists and media outlets in Türkiye are facing mounting threats. Our new mission report outlines the key challenges and the path forward.
Between 24 and 26 November 2025, ARTICLE 19 Europe joined media freedom and human rights organisations on a mission to Türkiye to assess both emerging and persistent challenges to the country’s media landscape amid an increasingly hostile environment for independent journalism.
In 2025, press and media freedom in Türkiye continued to deteriorate against the backdrop of a broader democratic decline. The government’s crackdown on mass protests following the March 2025 detention of then- İstanbul mayor and opposition presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu triggered a surge in press freedom violations.
ARTICLE 19 Europe contributed expertise to the report on the instrumentalisation of the criminal justice system, including the abuse of overly broad criminal provisions and pre-trial detention and other judicial control measures, in the intimidation and silencing of journalists.
ARTICLE 19 Europe has repeatedly warned that the vague formulation of the criminal provisions most frequently wielded against journalists, including terrorism and disinformation offences, violate international freedom of expression standards. We have intervened as a third party in numerous cases involving such charges against journalists. Broad and restrictive laws continue to be implemented, with the Cybersecurity Law, which came into effect in March, being the most recent example. The law criminalises disseminating disinformation concerning data leaks.
Repression extended beyond individuals. Critical media institutions already in a precarious position due to economic strangulation were targeted with broadcast sanctions, steep fines, and confiscations. In parallel, digital repression intensified through website blocking, account restrictions, platform throttling, and expanded regulatory control over online platforms.
During the mission, the delegation met with the Constitutional Court, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), the EU Delegation, several foreign embassies, opposition party representatives, and members of the journalism community.
The mission aimed to raise urgent media freedom concerns and foster dialogue with key institutions. However, most government bodies and senior officials declined to engage with the delegation or respond to meeting requests.
Key Recommendations
- Reform laws routinely used to criminalise journalism
- Reform regulatory and administrative bodies that oversee the media
- Prioritise the financial sustainability of independent media
- Strengthen technology and AI governance to protect access to independent information
- Ensure media-related reforms are developed through broad consultation with journalists and civil society
- Encourage the international and diplomatic communities to prioritise support for these reforms
The mission was convened by the International Press Institute (IPI), and comprised representatives from the following organisations: Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19 Europe, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) as part of Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO).