Iz Gazete

In COVID-19 Fight, Free Speech Becomes Collateral Damage

Published by Balkan Insight on Thu, 03/04/2021 - 08:07

"After I confirmed it with my sources, I reported the situation", Can, who at the time worked for the local Izmir newspaper Iz Gazete, told BIRN.

Pressed to name his sources, Can refused. Hours of questioning resulted in a charge of spreading fake news and causing panic. The case was dropped several months later, but Can's chilling experience was far from a one-off.