Death of Journalism? Freedom of Expression in Türkiye
GHRTV
06-10-2023
İrem Çakmak
Middle East and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
On the morning of October 1, Ankara faced an attempted suicide bomb attack at the gate of the General Directorate of Security by two people who came got out of a light commercial vehicle. According to the official statements, one opened fire with a long-barreled gun, and then blew himself up, as the other was stopped by the police. [1] There are also allegations that the attackers killed a veterinarian in the province of Kayseri and stole his vehicle from off-road roads. [2] The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (“the PKK”) took responsibility for the attack, and the next day, according to the Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, nearly a thousand people were arrested in a police operation carried out in 64 provinces of Türkiye. [3]
In addition to the arrests, a publication ban was imposed on the news. [4] The issue was discussed in various television programmes and newspapers within the limits allowed by the ban. Ayşenur Arslan, a journalist of Halk TV, known for her opposition to the government, expressed her opinion during her programme, 'Medya Mahallesi', in the following words:
“Maybe the person who is said to have blown himself up did not know that the terrorist had a remote-controlled explosive on him or in the car. Because it is so pointless, you cannot come and die without doing anything. He blew himself up out of the blue…
This is basically one of the things that comes to my mind. Of course, I am not alleging it. Nevertheless, why is it so easy to kill the driver of a car? You will unlock it, turn on the ignition, set the bomb and leave. Why kill someone in Kayseri when we can do this in Ankara and say, 'I am coming, bombs on our backs, guns on our waists.' What do you mean?” [5]
Following her programme, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against Ayşenur Arslan for ‘making propaganda for a terrorist organisation’ and ‘praising the crime and the criminal’ due to her words about the attack in Ankara. [6] Although she was released after her statement was taken, Halk TV, the broadcasting channel, announced on Twitter that it was decided to take the journalist’s program off the air, which exceeded the limits of the channel’s values even though she was condemning terrorism in the same program. [7]
Ayşenur Arslan’s taking into custody and her programme’s cancellation received criticism from other journalists and human rights defenders. The Turkish Journalists Association expressed their critique, stating that “Journalists should know that freedom of expression is not unlimited, but they should be aware that freedom of expression includes not only positively received, harmless news or ideas, but also thoughts that ‘shock, hurt or disturb the state’”. [8]
After she was released, Arslan stated that her detention and the cancellation of her programme were not unexpected. She wrote, “I will say, it was not a surprise. It was a storm you felt was approaching from the smell of the soil and the electricity in the air!” [9]
Türkiye has a history of suppressing freedom of expression. The oppression of the media gained momentum, especially after the 2016 coup attempt. According to Amnesty International, in Türkiye, there is an increasing threat of criminal investigation, prosecution, intimidation, harassment and censorship for academics, journalists and writers critical of the government, which is described as the “death of journalism” by some and becoming increasingly evident due to the fear that opposing officials could lead to imprisonment. [10] Discriminatory practices against journalists include stripping them of press passes and hate campaigns on social media [11] and demonising critical journalism. [12]
According to Reporters Without Borders, opposition and independent media constitute an essential source of information for the public, since 90% of the media outlets in Türkiye are under government control. [13] However, with the new disinformation crime introduced in September 2022, journalists face a more significant threat of arbitrary detention. The newly-adopted provision introduces a prison sentence of up to three years for a vaguely defined disinformation crime. [14] President of Association of Journalists, Nazmi Bilgin, stated that 56 journalists were taken into custody by the police, 23 journalists and media organisations were brought before the court for spreading misleading information, and 40 journalists, most of which were critical of the government, were subject to violence. [15]
Although Türkiye is frequently and widely criticised for violating journalists’ rights and the freedom of expression, the government’s approach on this issue does not seem to change any time soon, considering the 2016 coup attempt, the February 2023 earthquakes, and most recently, the attack attempt in Ankara.
Sources and further reading
[1] Bianet, ‘Bomb attack outside Ankara police headquarters leaves two officers wounded’ (October 01, 2023) <Bomb attack outside Ankara police headquarters leaves two officers wounded> accessed 9 October 2023.
[2] DW News, ‘Ankara'daki saldırıda yanıtı aranan sorular’ (October 1, 2023) <Ankara'daki saldırıda yanıtı aranan sorular> accessed 9 October 2023.
[3] Aljazeera, ‘Turkey detains 90 people over suspected PKK links after Ankara bomb attack’ (October 03, 2023) <Turkey detains 90 people over suspected PKK links after Ankara bomb attack> accessed 6 October 2023.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Halktv ‘Ayşenur Arslan ile Medya Mahallesi’, time: 17:10 - 19:09, (October 02, 2023) <Ayşenur Arslan ile Medya Mahallesi> accessed 6 October 2023.
[6] BBC Türkçe ‘Gözaltına alınan gazeteci Ayşenur Arslan serbest bırakıldı’ (October 03, 2023) <Gözaltına alınan gazeteci Ayşenur Arslan serbest bırakıldı > accessed 6 October 2023.
[8] Türkiye Gazeteciler Cemiyeti ‘TGC: Halk TV’ye RTÜK’ün verdiği ceza basın özgürlüğüne müdahaledir’ (October 04, 2023) <TGC: Halk TV’ye RTÜK’ün verdiği ceza basın özgürlüğüne müdahaledir> accessed 6 October 2023.
[9] Ayşenur Arslan, ‘Ayşenur Arslan Yaşadıklarını halktv.com.tr İçin Kaleme Aldı... O Fırtına Ve 'İzleri' (October 06, 2023) <Ayşenur Arslan Yaşadıklarını halktv.com.tr İçin Kaleme Aldı... O Fırtına Ve 'İzleri'> accessed 6 October 2023.
[10] Amnesty International, ‘Turkey: Journalism is not a Crime’ (n.d.) <Turkey: Journalism is not a Crime> accessed 6 October 2023.
[11] Reporters Without Borders, (n.d.) ‘Türkiye’ <Türkiye> accessed 6 October 2023.
[12] Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa, ‘Reporting in Turkey: a dangerous job’ (October 05, 2023) <Reporting in Turkey: a dangerous job > accessed 6 October 2023.
[13] Reporters Without Borders (n.d.) ‘Türkiye’ <Türkiye> accessed 6 October 2023.
[14] Law on Amendments to the Press Law and Some Laws, No. 7418 (2022) <18 Ekim 2022 SALI> accessed 6 October 2023.
[15] Gazeteciler Cemiyeti, ‘Gazetecilere Şiddet Bir Sansür Yöntemidir, Reddediyoruz! Yetkilileri Hukuka Uymaya Çağırıyoruz’ (July 23, 2023) <Gazetecilere Şiddet Bir Sansür Yöntemidir, Reddediyoruz! Yetkilileri Hukuka Uymaya Çağırıyoruz> accessed 9 October 2023.
