Imagine a world where telling the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable or critical of those in power, could land you in jail. For journalists in Turkey, this isn’t a hypothetical fear; it’s a stark reality, thanks to a deeply problematic law affectionately (or rather, ironically) called the “disinformation law.” This isn’t just a tough law; it’s a hammer being swung with alarming frequency, designed not to prevent genuine harm, but to silence those who dare to shine a light on sensitive topics. A coalition of dedicated organizations, all champions of press freedom and human rights, are sounding the alarm, unequivocally condemning the increasingly aggressive use of this law. They’re urging the Turkish government to immediately scrap it and free every single journalist trapped behind bars because of its vague and dangerous directives.
Since this so-called “disinformation law” – officially Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code – came into effect in October 2022, it has unleashed a torrent of charges against journalists. We’re not talking about a handful of isolated incidents; news reports indicate at least 83 journalists have been charged a staggering 114 times. This isn’t a trickle; it’s a flood designed to overwhelm and intimidate. The recent article highlighted in this statement paints a grim picture, singling out two journalists who have borne the brunt of this legal assault: İsmail Arı from BirGün, who has faced six charges, and Alican Uludağ from DW Turkish, who has been charged four times. Both of these brave individuals are currently imprisoned, their lives abruptly halted, their voices forcibly silenced, simply for doing their jobs. In recent months, the authorities have gone into overdrive, escalating their use of this law. They’re not just charging journalists; they’re arresting and even sentencing them under broad, undefined prohibitions. This isn’t an isolated legal maneuver; it’s part of a chilling wider strategy to weaponize legislation, turning legitimate journalism into a criminal act and effectively muzzling critical reporting throughout Turkey. It’s a calculated effort to create an environment of fear, where the truth itself becomes a liability.
The personal stories behind these statistics are heartbreaking and illustrate the arbitrary nature of these arrests. Take Alican Uludağ, a judicial reporter and correspondent for DW Turkish. On February 19, he was simply doing his job when he was suddenly taken into custody in Ankara, then transported to Istanbul. His alleged crimes? “Insulting the president” under Article 299 and, of course, “disinformation” under Article 217/A. While he was ultimately arrested on the “insulting the president” charge and remains in prison awaiting trial, the “disinformation” charge still hangs over his head like a dark cloud. Then there’s Bilal Özcan, a journalist who, on March 15, reported on the suspicious death of an influencer, suggesting it might have been murder rather than suicide. For daring to report a potential discrepancy, Özcan was arrested in Istanbul on disinformation charges and has been held in pre-trial detention ever since. Imagine the chill this sends through the journalistic community: report on something that might challenge an official narrative, and you could be next.
The pattern of abuse continues, each case a stark reminder of the law’s chilling effect. On March 22, BirGün reporter İsmail Arı – one of the most frequently charged journalists – was detained in Tokat while simply visiting his family. His crime? Disinformation charges linked to a report he published about the mishandling of public funds. Arı, understandably, asserted his innocence, pointing out that the information he reported was already publicly available. Despite this, he was imprisoned pending trial on disinformation charges and is now being held at Sincan Prison in Ankara, separated from his loved ones and his work. These aren’t just legal proceedings; these are attacks on individuals, designed to break their spirit and deter others. A few weeks later, on April 14, an Istanbul court dropped another bombshell: journalists Murat Ağırel and Barış Pehlivan were each sentenced to one year and three months in prison under Article 217/A. Their offense? Commenting on a Halk TV broadcast about trade between Turkey and Israel. While their sentences are subject to appeal, the threat of imprisonment looms large. On the very same day, in a separate courtroom, journalist Zafer Arapkirli was also convicted under the disinformation law and handed a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. His “crime” was a social media post from December 2024 condemning attacks by jihadist groups on Alawite settlements in Syria. These incidents are not isolated; they paint a disturbing picture of a government determined to control the narrative at all costs.
The legal dragnet continues to ensnare more journalists, illustrating the broad and arbitrary application of this law. On April 17, Turgay Kılıç, a journalist at NEO TV in İzmir, found himself in the crosshairs. He was detained at his workplace and subsequently referred to court on disinformation charges stemming from a social media post. Kılıç had merely shared screenshots of threats and calls to violence targeting schools in İzmir that were circulating on Telegram, following two separate school attacks in Turkey. In his statement to the police, Kılıç explained that he was acting in his capacity as a journalist, and the images he shared were drawn from publicly accessible Telegram groups. Despite his journalistic intent and the public nature of the information, Kılıç was formally arrested. Although he was later released under judicial supervision, the prosecution against him continues, leaving him in a state of uncertainty. The very next day, on April 18, Mehmet Yetim, the editorial director of Kulis TV, was detained in Urfa. He, too, was charged under the disinformation law, with authorities citing a social media post as the basis for their investigation. His family vehemently disputed the arrest, emphasizing that Yetim had no criminal intent. Nevertheless, the court ordered his pre-trial detention, ruling that less stringent supervisory measures would be insufficient. This relentless barrage of arrests and charges reveals a system that prioritizes control over truth, using the “disinformation law” as a powerful tool to silence dissent and suppress any reporting that deviates from the official line.
This disturbing pattern of misusing the “disinformation law” against journalists and media professionals paints Turkey as a global outlier. It’s a country that is flagrantly abusing regressive “fake news” and disinformation legislation to stifle media freedom and freedom of expression, creating an even more hostile environment for independent journalism, which is already under immense pressure. The fundamental problem with Turkey’s disinformation law is its structural incompatibility with international press freedom standards. Its language is dangerously vague; it fails to clearly define what constitutes “untrue information” or to specify what content genuinely poses a threat to national security or public order. As one journalist who has faced prosecution under this very law pointed out, any information not sourced from the government is susceptible to being labeled as false. These glaring deficiencies hand the courts unchecked power to arbitrarily determine criminality, effectively enabling them to target critical journalism with impunity. The undersigned organizations, a united front of advocates for a free press, firmly reiterate a fundamental truth: a free and independent press is, in itself, the most robust defense against the spread of false information. Criminalizing journalism is neither a lawful nor an effective solution to this challenge. We urgently call upon the Turkish authorities to take immediate and unconditional action: release all journalists arrested under Article 217/A, drop all pending charges against journalists for their reporting or commentary, repeal Article 217/A in its entirety, and bring all legislation governing freedom of expression into full conformity with Turkey’s international obligations. This is not just a call for justice for individuals; it is a plea for the very soul of a free society, where the truth can be spoken without fear of reprisal.