Demonstrations for press freedom in Turkey

Demos for press freedom in Turkey "We don't want to be arrested because we write" As of: October 26, 2026 • 3:25 p.m

Journalists have long been under pressure in Turkey. The authorities recently blocked media sites and arrested more journalists. Over the weekend, thousands of people protested for more freedom of the press.

"We will write, the people will speak," says the sign that Ada Dağtekin holds over her head. The 21-year-old marched through Istanbul's Kadikoy district with a friend on Saturday afternoon. The demonstration was part of a nationwide protest for greater press freedom that took place in ten cities. According to police, more than 3,000 people came together in Istanbul alone. The authorities also counted at least 3,000 participants in the capital Ankara.

Ada Dağtekin studies journalism and also writes for the anti-government newspaper BirGün. For them, it's about nothing less than their professional future. "We want to do journalism in a freer atmosphere. We don't want to be arrested or put on trial because we write, because we speak or because we express our thoughts," she says.

Her friend's poster shows a young man - İsmail Arı. He also works as a journalist at BirGün. He was arrested just a few days ago. The accusation is that he spread “misleading information”. “We are here today for him and for the many other journalists who were arrested,” explains Ada Dağtekin.

Halk TV's ongoing broadcast was stopped. more

Arrests of journalists are nothing new in Turkey. According to journalists' associations and the opposition, the Turkish judiciary has been acting on behalf of the government for years against reporting that it sees as unpleasant. In addition, editorial offices have been bought up by government-affiliated corporations over the years. According to estimates by the organization Reporters Without Borders, 90 percent of media reports are now pro-government.

In recent weeks, the situation for the free press has become even more dire. In September, authorities blocked the website of the independent news portal T24. As justification, the Turkish authorities referred to the website's alleged "LGBT propaganda".

Two weeks ago there was a raid on the television station Halk TV, which is close to the largest opposition party. The authorities placed him under receivership.

Officially it was said that the action was taking place as part of an investigation into bribery and money laundering. Press associations and the opposition doubt this. Erol Önderoğlu, former chairman of Reporters Without Borders in Turkey, has a different explanation for the recent events: "The government's increasing aggressiveness towards journalists recently is probably also a reaction to the observed loss of popularity of Erdoğan and his party before the elections," he explains.

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The next elections in Turkey are scheduled for 2028. In current surveys, approval ratings for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling party AKP are falling. One of the biggest stock market scandals in Turkish history is currently threatening to further damage his image. In September it was revealed that more than 100 government-controlled investment funds had been manipulated. While thousands of small investors lost money, several high-ranking AKP members are said to be involved in the scandal.

So does Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya. Until recently, she was deputy chairwoman of the party and former family and social affairs minister. According to media reports, she is said to have sold her shares shortly before the stock market burst with the help of insider information and thus made millions in profits. Erdoğan expelled her from the AKP. Both T24 and Halk TV reported extensively on the events on the stock exchange.

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Former employees of Halk TV were among the protesters at the demonstration in Istanbul's Kadikoy district. The 39-year-old Gözde Şeker worked as a presenter until a few months before the station was closed. The news of the raid came as a shock. "It was a very shocking experience for all of us. Halk TV was more than just one of the most watched television channels in this country. It feels like a relative was taken away from me," she says.

Gözde Şeker says it is time for media representatives to take to the streets as one. She criticizes the fact that the protest was not big enough when other media companies were closed in the past.

But demonstrating in Turkey always comes with the risk of being arrested. Gözde also admits to having an uneasy feeling on the street. "I'm definitely afraid, but not just for myself. I'm afraid for the future of this country, for our homeland." The 39-year-old says she really wants to continue working as a journalist. Like so many critical journalists in Turkey, she now publishes her content on YouTube and social media.

21-year-old journalism student Ada Dağtekin is also combative. Unlike some of her fellow students, she is not thinking about leaving the country. "I want to stay here, fight and change something. And I think that we as journalists are one of the most important driving forces for change," she explains.

The protest broke up on the Bosphorus promenade in the afternoon. There were no arrests that day. Nevertheless, the danger was always present: there were also some drones flying in the sky among the seagulls. Directed by the police, who arrived with hundreds of officers to keep a close eye on the journalists.

This topic in the program: NDR Info | News | Oct 26, 2026 | 6:22 p.m. tagesschau.de | Demo in Turkey for freedom of the press | Oct 26, 2026 | 2:45 p.m