Censorship in Turkey

July 24 used to be celebrated by Turkish journalists as the anniversary of the abolishment of official press censorship in Turkey.

Turkey's media watchdog Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) cancelled licenses for five TV channels, after the latter did not heed the council's broadcasting ban of 10 days, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on July 20. 

Turkey is going through its worst period in terms of rights abuses since the foundation of the Human Rights Association (İHD), according to İHD head Öztürk Türkdoğan. 

Türkdoğan said İHD's annual report listed the highest number of human rights violations since its establishment on July 17, 1986. 

Authority granted by the state of emergency rule is only used against terrorist organizations, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, stating that the criticisms concerning human rights and democracy were "ideologically biased."

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has demanded Turkey's defense in the cases against jailed daily Cumhuriyet journalists, inviting the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to submit a written defense by Oct. 2. 

The ECHR agreed to give priority to the cases of arrested Cumhuriyet journalists and executives, asking Turkey to provide the reasons for jailing them. 

Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry has announced plans to support TV series that promote family life and which are aimed at children. 

The ministry commenced talks with the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) on the issue and is working to determine the criteria regarding the support, daily Habertürk reported May 23. 

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday took back control of the ruling party he founded, a step that gives the nation’s most powerful man additional authority to appoint loyalists to parliament lists and party posts across the nation.

The state of emergency declared in the wake of the July 2016 failed coup attempt will not be removed until peace is restored, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on May 21.

Some 123 Turkish journalists are fugitives abroad, while 159 of them were in jail as of the end of April, according to a report by the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC). 

U.S. fantasy-drama Games of Thrones has been named in an indictment against a group of military officers allegedly tied to the group that planned Turkey's July 2016 coup attempt, a judicial official stated on May 17.