Censorship in Turkey

Media reports in Turkey said prosecutors are requesting that a German citizen journalist who was arrested in Turkey be released from jail pending the outcome of her trial on terror-related charges.

The Turkish government has claimed that prominent imprisoned Cumhuriyet reporter Ahmet Şık was not arrested for his journalistic activities, in its defense submitted to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Nov. 27.

A lawsuit has been filed against singer Zuhal Olcay for “insulting” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a concert last year, with the prosecutor seeking a four-year prison sentence for the singer.

An Istanbul prosecutor demanded aggravated life sentences for journalists Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak on Dec. 11 in the case into the “media arm” of the Fetullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), believed to have been behind the July 2016 coup attempt.

Turkey’s family and social policy minister marked Women’s Rights Day on Dec. 5, celebrated by the country every year on the same day after Turkish women’s political rights were recognized in 1934.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) ruled on Nov. 24 to impose a penalty against private broadcaster Beyaz TV after Turkish pundit Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı made sexually explicit comments targeting Bosnians during a live sports show.

Turkey’s mobile internet economy rose 18 percent in 2016 when compared to 2015, reaching $26 billion, said a report released on Nov. 21.

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) could replace at least 13 Istanbul district heads and the total number of provincial heads replaced nationwide could rise to 30 by the end of March 2018, daily Hürriyet has reported.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has rejected Turkey’s request for additional time to submit its defense in cases against jailed daily Cumhuriyet journalists.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has once again vowed to clear Turkey’s state institutions of members of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), saying the ruling Justice and Democracy Party (AKP) will do “everything necessary within the boundaries of the law.”