Will Turkey’s Presidential Election Be Free and Fair Amid Press Suppression?

Turkey has been experiencing a significant decline in press freedom in recent years, with many journalists being jailed, media outlets being closed, and censorship becoming commonplace.

These developments have raised serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the upcoming presidential election on May 14, 2023, and whether the voices of all citizens will be heard.

This article will discuss the reasons behind Turkey’s decline in independent journalism activities and freedom of expression and how it has become the world’s biggest journalist prison.

Journalism is essential to democracy as it provides the public with information that helps them make informed decisions. However, in Turkey, journalists are targeted and attacked, leading to exile and refugee lives for many.

Turkey has become one of the most notorious countries in the world for attacks on freedom of the press and expression.

All autocratic governments target journalists first to shape societies through their own propaganda, and Turkey is no different. The government tries to control the media, using journalists for hate speech and lynching campaigns and silencing them with threats, unlawful trials, arrests, and attacks.

Turkey’s Current Status

Under the rule of President Erdogan’s AKP since 2002, Turkey has become one of the most notorious countries globally for attacks on freedom of the press and expression, crackdowns on journalists, and arrests.

International journalist organizations have named Turkey the country that arrests and convicts the most journalists worldwide. At least 848 journalists were arrested between 2002 and 2022, with hundreds arrested within a few weeks after the controversial coup attempt of 15 July 2016.

During the State of Emergency Administration (OHAL) period in 2016, 179 media outlets were closed, including newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, magazines, news agencies, and publishing houses.

The Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) 2016 press report showed that 780 journalists’ press cards were revoked, 839 journalists appeared before judges in cases brought against them for the news they made, and 189 journalists were verbally and physically attacked.

The number of unemployed journalists exceeded 10,000. In 2016 alone, Turkey ranked first with 191 journalists in prison, followed by China with 38 journalists and Egypt with 25 journalists. As of 2023, Turkey ranks 165th among 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RFS) Press Freedom Index.

Reasons for the Crackdown

The main reason for the decline in independent journalism activities and freedom of expression in Turkey is the shelving of democratic values together with the Erdogan regime and the complete loss of the independence of the judiciary.

Erdogan has turned Turkey into the world’s largest prison of journalists, using major corruption crimes he was involved in to target journalists who brought these crimes to light.

Media bosses were discouraged by lawsuits brought by the courts under Erdogan’s control and had to withdraw from the media industry. Many media outlets were closed by the police force for unlawful reasons, and their management was seized and handed over to government-controlled figures.

Erdogan has turned Turkey into the world’s largest prison of journalists, using major corruption crimes he was involved in to target journalists.

As a result, the Erdogan government succeeded in seizing 90 per cent of the media in Turkey, silencing dissident voices and preventing the public from learning the truth. Even citizens with different views who criticize the government began to fear being unjustly and unlawfully detained, tried, arrested, and convicted.

Erdogan’s new “disinformation law,” approved on October 18, 2022, makes “spreading false information” punishable by one to three years in prison. This law is also seen as a precautionary measure against journalists targeted by Erdogan.

Foreign Journalists Are Also Targets

Foreign journalists in Turkey have also faced challenges and obstacles in carrying out their work. While some have been deported or arrested, others have reported feeling harassed and threatened while working in the country.

In recent years, Turkey has been criticized for its treatment of foreign journalists, with many accusing the government of attempting to stifle critical reporting and control the narrative.

In 2016, a Turkish court sentenced a Turkish-German journalist, Deniz Yucel, to prison on terrorism-related charges. Yucel was held in pretrial detention for over a year before being released and allowed to return to Germany. His case became a flashpoint in German-Turkish relations, with Chancellor Angela Merkel calling for his release and the German government pressuring Turkey to respect press freedom.

The absence of a free and independent press in Turkey makes it difficult for citizens to access accurate information.

Other foreign journalists have also faced harassment and intimidation while working in Turkey. In 2015, two Vice News reporters were arrested and charged with terrorism offences, sparking outrage from the international community. And in 2017, a French journalist was detained while working on a story in Turkey and held for several weeks before being released.

Targeting foreign journalists is just one aspect of Turkey’s broader crackdown on press freedom. Under President Erdogan’s leadership, Turkey has become one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists, with hundreds of reporters and media workers behind bars.

The government has also shut down dozens of media outlets and websites, leaving many journalists unemployed and struggling to find work.

The situation in Turkey has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and governments worldwide, who have called on Erdogan to respect press freedom and protect the rights of journalists. But despite these efforts, the situation in Turkey remains bleak, with journalists facing constant threats and harassment from the government.

Targeting journalists critical of the government is part of a broader crackdown on civil society in Turkey.

The decline of press freedom in Turkey is a serious concern for those who believe in the importance of free and independent media. With the country’s presidential election just around the corner, there are fears that the government will further crackdown on the press and stifle critical reporting.

Following Journalists Abroad

Turkey has increasingly cracked down on journalists critical of the government in recent years, leading to an exodus of media professionals leaving the country. However, even those who have fled to other countries are not safe from the long arm of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Many journalists who have left Turkey have reported being followed and harassed by individuals they believe to be affiliated with the Turkish government. In some cases, these individuals have even threatened the safety of the journalists and their families.

One such case is Can Dündar, a Turkish journalist and former editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet. Dündar fled Turkey in 2016 after being charged with espionage and revealing state secrets. Since then, he has been living in exile in Germany. However, in 2019, Dündar was attacked outside a courthouse in Istanbul by a group of men, one of whom was armed. While Dündar was not injured in the attack, it was a chilling reminder of the risks faced by journalists critical of the Turkish government.

Journalists have been targeted and attacked, leading to exile and refugee lives for many.

Another journalist the Turkish government targets is exiled writer and journalist Abdullah Bozkurt. Bozkurt fled Turkey in 2016 after facing criminal charges related to his reporting on the government. Since then, he has been living in Sweden. However, in 2019, Bozkurt reported that he had been followed and harassed by Turkish nationals in Sweden, including one man who threatened to harm him and his family.

These incidents are not isolated cases. Human rights organizations have documented numerous instances of Turkish government agents following and harassing journalists abroad. This puts the safety of the journalists and their families at risk and has a chilling effect on press freedom.

Targeting journalists critical of the government is part of a broader crackdown on civil society in Turkey under President Erdogan. Since a failed coup in 2016, Erdogan has been accused of using the incident as an excuse to crack down on dissent and consolidate power. This has led to the imprisonment of thousands of journalists, activists, and academics and the closure of numerous media outlets.

Commitment to Journalism

But despite the challenges, journalists in Turkey remain committed to their work and continue to report on the issues that matter most to their readers. They do so in the face of constant threats and intimidation, knowing that their work is essential to holding the government accountable and ensuring that the voices of all citizens are heard.

Journalists fleeing Turkey are not safe from Erdogan’s long arm, putting their safety at risk.

As the international community watches and waits to see what happens in Turkey’s upcoming election, it is essential to stand up for press freedom and the rights of journalists. Turkey’s government must be held accountable for its actions and push for real change to ensure free and independent media.

Only then Turkey remain a vibrant and democratic society where the rights of all citizens are respected and protected.