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Mapping Media Freedom

Aug 02
0

Report: Journalists increasingly caught in the middle

By | Features, Mapping Media Freedom, Quarterly reports

Violence against journalists in Europe increased in the second quarter of 2016, reports submitted to Index on Censorship’s Mapping Media Freedom platform show, as a government crackdown in Turkey intensified and protests turned violent in countries from France to Finland.

Between 1 April and 30 June 2016, Mapping Media Freedom’s network of 18 correspondents and other journalists submitted a total of 341 verified reports of violations of press freedom to the database, a 13% rise over the first quarter of 2016. The platform was established in May 2014 to document threats to media freedom across Europe and neighbouring countries.

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Aug 01
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Yavuz Baydar: Six more journalists jailed in Turkey

By | Mapping Media Freedom, Turkey Uncensored

Turkish journalist Lale Kemal

By Yavuz Baydar

It was a long Saturday night for all of us, at home and abroad, monitoring the worrisome developments around media freedom in Turkey. As if to confirm our fears, the night ended with the detention of six more journalists.

Defence lawyers expected the cases to be handled first thing Monday 1 August. But in a hasty move, journalists who wrote for the opinion section of Zaman — which stands at the epicentre of accusations of being part of the so-called “media leg of FETO terror organisation” — were taken to the Istanbul courthouse. After a long process, all were sent to jail.

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Jul 29
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Mapping Media Freedom: In review 22-28 July

By | Europe and Central Asia, Mapping Media Freedom, mobile, News and features, North Macedonia, Poland, Turkey

Click on the dots for more information on the incidents.

Each week, Index on Censorship’s Mapping Media Freedom project verifies threats, violations and limitations faced by the media throughout the European Union and neighbouring countries. Here are five recent reports that give us cause for concern. Read More

Jul 29
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Turkey’s rising censorship: How did we get here?

By | Europe and Central Asia, Mapping Media Freedom, News and features, Turkey
People gather in solidarity outside Zaman newspaper in Istanbul in March 2016

People gather in solidarity with the press outside Zaman newspaper in Istanbul in March 2016

By Ianka Bhatia and Sean Vannata

The spotlight has been on Turkey following the attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the government’s ensuing crackdown on journalists, teachers, judges and soldiers. How did it come to this? Here are five key articles on Turkey from Index on Censorship showing the escalation of threats to freedom of expression prior to July’s failed coup. Read More

Jul 28
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Yavuz Baydar: Turkey’s rounding up reporters, editors and columnists

By | Mapping Media Freedom, Turkey Uncensored
Şahin Alpay

Şahin Alpay is a columnist for multiple newspapers, including Yarina Bakis, which was forced to suspend its print edition after the coup.

By Yavuz Baydar

It was 6am when Professor Şahin Alpay and his wife heard the knock at the door. It was the police. They had come to take him into custody.

The 72-year-old journalist’s flat was searched for two hours. As he was led away, Alpay said: “I do not know why I am being taken away. I am not in a position to say anything.”

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Jul 28
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Dunja Mijatović : Turkey must treat media freedom for what it really is – a test of democracy

By | Mapping Media Freedom, Turkey
Büşra Erdal, mentioned in the text, surrendered in Manisa and taken to police hq in handcuffs.

Büşra Erdal, one of 89 journalists subject to arrest, surrendered in Manisa and was taken to police headquarters in handcuffs.

Media freedom must be treated for what it really is: a strong test of democracy. And any response to a crisis requires a cautious approach if basic civil liberties, the building blocks of any free society, are to be protected. Make no mistake about it, in the case of Turkey, we are faced with a situation where authorities are violating the basic human right of Turkish citizens to engage in free media.

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