News Center – Press freedom in Turkey is facing major challenges, as the country is witnessing a growing pattern of repression against journalists and independent media, limiting their ability to practice their profession freely and reflecting a continued decline in freedom of expression and media freedom.

A new report issued by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) stated that Turkey recorded 137 press freedom violations in 2025, ranking third among EU member states and candidate countries.

The report indicated that these violations affected 259 journalists and media outlets and described them as part of a systematic pattern of media repression. The violations included legal measures, physical violence, regulatory restrictions, and digital control. Legal actions alone accounted for 70.8% of the total violations, while regulatory pressure rose to 10.2%, compared to 2.2% in 2024.

The data also showed that nearly half of the cases (49.6%) involved the arrest, detention, or imprisonment of journalists on charges related to “disinformation, terrorism, insult, or national security.” At least 22 journalists were convicted because of their reporting, while several prominent journalists were arrested or prosecuted over political commentary and analysis.

The report also documented 16 physical assaults and 20 verbal attacks, including death threats, as well as 17 attacks on property, among them an armed attack on a local office of the newspaper Evrensel. It warned that the lack of effective investigations into these incidents reinforces a climate of impunity and noted that critical journalism is increasingly being treated as a criminal and security issue.

Violations and pressures

Turkish authorities continued to use house arrest measures and judicial supervision, including international travel bans and regular reporting requirements to the police, which restricted journalists’ freedom of work throughout the year.

The report pointed out that the pressure was not limited to individuals but also extended to the institutional capacity of opposition media. Turkey’s broadcasting regulator primarily targeted opposition outlets in 2025 through broadcast bans and fines, warning that repeated penalties could lead to license revocation, including over coverage of protests.

Authorities also increased the blocking of news websites and social media accounts and restricted internet speed during protests, limiting public access to information.

It is worth noting that the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), established in 2020 and partially funded by the European Commission, is a European mechanism specialized in monitoring and responding to violations of press and media freedom in EU member states and candidate countries.