Many journalists in Turkey are being persecuted and kept in jail all over the country.Committee to Protect Journalists 2014 prison census: 220 journalists jailed worldwide . Retrieved on 8 October 2012 Below is an extensive list of the prisoners, past and present.
231 journalists have been arrested in Turkey after 15 July 2016 alone. According to the Gülen movement-linked (which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, Pakistan, and the GCC) advocacy group Stockholm Center for Freedom that tracks cases of prosecutions of Turkish journalists, in the year 2018, 122 journalists received a jail sentence in the country.
List of arrested journalists
The following is a non-exhaustive list of arrested journalists in Turkey:The European Federation of Journalists List of journalists in Turkish prisons . Retrieved on 8 October 2012 A new updated and searchable list of jailed journalists is compiled by Stockholm Center for Freedom which stated that 165 journalists had been arrested, 88 convicted and 167 wanted by the authorities as of 8 May 2020.
+ Arrested journalists in Turkey Name Media Position Date arrested Status Background infoDoğa BaskanEvrenselcorrespondent in Ankara2026-06-25Released on 2026-06-27Arrested and put into custody as a flight risk (despite turning herself in) due to being charged for spreading misleading information to the public, released on appeal two days later. Abdulcebbar Karabeğ Azadiya Welat correspondent in Mersin 2010-09-26 Released on 2012-11-02Evrensel Gazeteci Karabeğ ve Çat’a tahliye , retrieved on 17 November 2012 detained at the closed prison of Hatay Cevheri Güven Nokta Editor-in-Chief 2015-11-03 Released on 2015-12-29; tried in absentia and now in exile Arrested over a cover story critical of the government. Sentenced to 22 years and 6 mounts in prison in absentia in 2017 for "inciting an armed uprising." The magazine was closed by decree in 2016. Abdullah Çetin Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Kurtalan, Siirt Province 2011-12-16 Released on 2014-06-25 detained at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakır Abdullah CivanToday's Zaman2016-09-02Convicted on 2017-5-26 convicted to 10 years and 5 months, detained in İzmirAbdullah Kılıç Meydan correspondent2016-07-25 Convicted and jailed pending trial Sentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018. Imprisoned in the Silivri prison, İstanbulAbdülkader CivanToday's Zaman2016-09-02ConvictedSentenced to more than 10 years imprisonment on 26 May 2017Adnan BilenMezopotamya Agency journalist 2020-10-9Released in April 2021imprisoned for about 6 monthsAbdurrahman GökDicle Haber Ajansı24 March 2009Released in November 2009Abdurrahman ÖncüPiaCamera operator2022-06-16Arrested Ahmet Altan Taraf journalist 2016-09-10 Released 2021-04-21 Sentenced to life in prison with solitary confinement in 2018. Released after an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and a ruling of the Court of Cassation Ahmet Akyol Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Adana 2011-05-09 Released on 2012-11-06 Was detained at the M-Type prison in Ceyhan, Adana Ahmet Birsin Gün TV general coordinator 2009-04-14 Convicted Sentenced to 21 years for administrating a terrorist organization in March 2017Ahmet BökenTRT2016-08-18Sentenced to 9 years and 9 months imprisonment.Mehmet Bilal ColakSentenced to 9 years imprisonment.Ahmet ŞıkCumhuriyet3 March 2011/2016-12-3012 March 2012/released pending trial in March 2018First arrest is part of Ergenekon trials. Sentenced to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment on second arrest Ahmet TorunTRTSentenced to 7 years and 5 months imprisonment. Ali Konar Azadiya Welat correspondent in Elazig 2010-05-27 Convicted Sentenced to 7 years and 6 months on 22 October 2015 Ali ÖzparunTRTJailed pending trialAli ÜnalYeni Hayat2016-08-16Convicted 2018-11-14, pending trialSentenced to 19 years and 6 months, detained in the F Type prison Buca Kırıklar Arif Çelebi Released on 2014-05-08Hürriyet Daily News Three journalists, including Füsun Erdoğan, released over duration of detention , retrieved on 8 May 2014 detained during 7 years and 8 months Aykut YildirTRTJailed pending trial Ayşe Oyman Özgür Gündem editor 2011-12-24 Released on 2014-03-03 detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, IstanbulAysenur ParildakZaman2016-08-11Arrested sentenced to 7 years and 6 months imprisonmentAytekin GeziciSeyhan Belediyesi2016-08-26Detained pending appealsentenced to 9 years in prison on 16 February 2018 Aziz Tekin Azadiya Welat correspondent in Mardin 2012-01-29 Arrested detained at the E-Type prison in MardinAziz OruçMezapotamya Agency2022-06-16Barış PolatConvicted in January 2020sentenced to 6 years and 3 monthsBayram KayaYeni Hayat2016-07-29Arrested, jailed pending trialsentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018 Bayram Namaz Atılım writer 2006-09-10 Released on 2014-05-08 detained during 7 years and 8 months at the F-Type prison in Edirne Bedri Adanır Aram Yayınları, Hawar general director 2010-01-08 Released on 2012-11-27Bianet Bedri Adanır Özgür , retrieved on 28 November 2012 detained during 689 days at the D-Type prison in DiyarbakırBerivan AltanMezopotamya Agencyjournalist2022-10-30ArrestedCemil Uğur2020-10-09Released in April 2021imprisoned for about 6 months Cengiz Kapmaz Özgür Gündem writer 2011-11-26 Convicted Cengiz DoganAzadiya Welat2009-04-20Sentenced to 17 years and 1 month in prison. Çağdaş Kaplan Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Istanbul 2011-12-20 Released on 2013-02-11 detained at the F-Type prison in KandiraCuma UlusCan Erzincan TV2016-08-06ConvictedSentenced to 6 years 3 months imprisonment on 8 March 2018 Davut Uçar Etik Ajans director 2011-12-24 Arrested detained at the F-Type prison in KandiraDeniz NazlımMezopotamya agencyjournalist2022-10-30 Deniz Yıldırım AydınlıkChief editor2009-11-09 Released in March 2014 sentenced for leaking a phone conversation of Erdogan to the media Deniz Yücel Die Welt, taz journalist 2017-02-14 Released on 2018-02-16 jailed in Istanbul Derek Stoffel CBC News journalist2013-06-12 Released on 2013-06-12CBC CBC News, CBC correspondents released from detention in Turkey, retrieved on 18 June 2013 Dilşah Ercan Azadiya Welat correspondent in Mersin 2011-12-24 Arrested detained at the M-Type prison in Ceyhan, Adana Dilek Demiral Özgür Gündem journalist 2010-09-26 Released on 2014-03-03 detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, IstanbulDiren YurtseverMezopotamya agencyEditor in chief2022-10-30arrested Ebru Umar Metro, Libelle journalist, writer, columnist 2016-04-23 (Partly) released on 2016-04-24 Dutch journalist, arrested because of insulting Turkish president Erdoğan. Umar is prohibited to leave Turkey for the Netherlands awaiting further investigation.NOS Het weekend van Ebru Umar: opgepakt, vrijgelaten, maar nog niet vrij , retrieved on 1 May 2016 Eda Akıllı Şanlı Bizim Antalyacolumnist2016-07-25 Released pending trial 2016-12-18Emrullah AcarMezopotamya Agencycorrespondent2022-10-30Arrested Ekrem Dumanlı Zaman Gazetesi general director 2014-12-14 Released on 2014-12-19 Elif ÜngürPEL productionspresenter2022-06-16arrested Emre Soncan Zamancorrespondent2016-07-24 Convicted, jailed pending trial sentenced to 10 years and 5 months on 10 April 2018Enis BerberoğluSözcü2017-06-14Released on 20 September 2018Sentenced to 25 years on 14 June 2017, the sentence was lowered to 5 years and 10 months on 13 February 2018. Released until the end of his term as MP of the Turkish Parliament. Erdal Süsem Eylül editor2010-02-10 Convicted Convicted to life in prison Erol Zavar Odak director2007-01-20 Arrested detained at the F-Type prison in Sincan, AnkaraErsin ŞanlıTRTmanager2016-7-20Arrested Ertuğ Bozkurt Dicle Haber Ajansı editor2011-12-24 Arrested detained at the F-Type prison in KandiraFaruk AkkanCihan2016-08-04sentenced to 9 years imprisonment Fatih Özgür Aydın 2011-07-25 Fatma Koçak Dicle Haber Ajansı director 2011-12-24 detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, Istanbul Faysal Tunç Dicle Haber Ajansı correspondent in Sirnak 2007-04-05 Convicted Sentenced twice to 6 years and 3 months Ferhat Çiftçi Azadiya Welat correspondent in Gaziantep 2011-02-16 Arrested detained at the H-Type women prison in Gaziantep Füsun Erdoğan Özgür Radyo general coordinator 2006-09-10 Released on 2014-05-08 detained during 7 years and 8 months at the T-Type prison in KandiraGurbetelli ErsözÖzgür GündemEditor-in-Chief1994-01-12June 1994Gülnaz YıldızMücadele Birliği 2012-04-26ConvictedSentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison Gülsen Aslan Dicle Haber Ajansıcorrespondent in Batman2012-02-20Released on 2012-10-15detained at the M-Type prison in Batman Habip Güler Zamancorrespondent2016-07-25 Convicted, jailed pending trial sentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018. Detained in Silivri Prison. Hakan Soytemiz 2010-09-25 Released on 2012-09-24Hakan YalçınMezopotamya AgencyJournalist2022-10-30Arrested Halil İbrahim Balta Zaman, Yarına Bakışcorrespondent2016-07-25 Convicted, jailed pending trial sentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 8 March 2018Hanim Büşra ErdalYeni Hayat2016-07-29 Hamit Dilbahar Azadiya Welat writer2010-02-13 Convicted Sentenced to 16 years imprisonment.Hamza Güneri GökTRT2017-01-30Sentenced to 6 years and 3 months on 26 February 2019. Hasan Özgüneş Azadiya Welat writer2011-10-28 Arrested detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira Hatice Duman Atılım director2003-04-01 Convicted sentenced to life imprisonment. Detained at the M-Type prison in GebzeHayati YildizAzadiya Welat2017-03-01Released pending trialReleased pending trial 20 September 2017 Hidayet Karaca Samanyolu TV owner 2014-12-14 Convicted sentenced to 31 years imprisonment on 3 November 2017. Hikmet Çiçek 2008-03-25 Released 2014-03-10 Part of Ergenekon trials Hüseyin Deniz Evrenselcorrespondent2011-12-24 Released on 2014-03-27detained at the F-Type prison in Kandiraİdris SayılğanMezopotamya ajansijournalist2020-03-02currently arrestedHe was previously arrested for 1,137 days between 2016 and 2019