The International Press Institute (IPI) and the undersigned freedom of the press and expression organisations denounce the decision by a Turkish appeals court to uphold the 20-month prison sentence against renowned journalist Bülent Mumay. This verdict represents a severe assault on press freedom and freedom of expression in Türkiye, further eroding the foundations of democratic discourse in the country.
We urgently call on Turkish authorities to end their harassment of critical journalists. Mumay’s case is emblematic of the systematic repression of independent journalism in Türkiye. Mumay’s only legal recourse is to file an individual application to the Constitutional Court, which should overturn this ruling.
The chronology leading to this verdict is deeply alarming:
- On 6 May, 2023, Mumay was sentenced to 20 months in prison for his social media posts about a pro-government construction company’s seizure of Istanbul Municipality’s subway funds through a court during the period of time when the ruling party headed the municipality. The journalist appealed the sentence, but the appeal was rejected.
- A Turkish court ordered to block access to his tweet, which alleged that the contractors were government-affiliated, following a complaint from Metin Güneş, the owner of the company.
- On 20 May, 2024, further attempts to censor his reporting were made when a Turkish court ordered Twitter to remove another tweet about the same issue.
- On 20 August, 2024, an appeals court upheld the 20-month prison sentence. The court also ordered the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to block access to news reports about the upheld prison sentence. At this point, Mumay’s only remaining legal recourse is to file an individual application to the Constitutional Court.
The charges against Mumay, which include ‘illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data’, are a thinly-veiled attempt to silence critical journalism. The verdict, coupled with repeated censorship, demonstrates the escalating pressure on press freedom in Türkiye. It sends a chilling message to journalists seeking to report on matters of public interest, especially those involving politically connected entities.
Mumay’s case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment and censorship targeting Türkiye’s independent media. It highlights the urgent need for international attention to protect press freedom and the public’s right to information.
Ongoing harassment of independent journalists
The persecution of Bülent Mumay exemplifies a widespread campaign of intimidation against journalists in Türkiye. The government employs a persistent approach to stifling investigative reporting, utilising legal intimidation, censorship, and financial coercion. Recent incidents emphasise the gravity of this trend:
Legal Persecution: BirGün journalists İsmail Arı and Timur Soykan face investigations for their books on organized crime and corruption, with authorities seeking fines and book seizures in what are clear attempts to curb investigative journalism.
Censorship: A Turkish court ordered the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to block access to a news report by journalist İsmail Saymaz on the controversial appointment of Assoc. Prof. Miyase Koyuncu Kaya as Türkiye’s Education Attaché in The Hague, Netherlands, replacing her husband.
Financial Pressure: The systematic censorship of investigative journalism by the government has created an environment where even criminals feel emboldened to target journalists. A striking example is the lawsuit filed by drug lord Duax Ngakuru against Timur Soykan and Kırmızı Kedi Publishing, demanding 350,000 TL in damages and the withdrawal of the book Baron Invasion, which describes the activities of crime syndicates in Türkiye and explains why global mafias are flocking to Türkiye. This showcases the financial tools being used to intimidate journalists and publishers.
These cases illustrate the multifaceted assault on press freedom in Türkiye. Journalists covering matters of public interest face legal consequences, censorship, and financial ruin. This coordinated campaign endangers democratic principles and threatens the public’s right to be informed.
The undersigned organizations demand that instead of punishing journalists for informing the public, Türkiye’s judiciary should hold accountable those violating press freedom in the country. It is essential that journalists be allowed to perform their vital role in society without fear of retribution.
This statement was produced by IPI as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries, funded by the European Commission.
Signed:
International Press Institute (IPI)
ARTICLE 19 Europe
Articolo 21
Association of Journalists, Ankara
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Foreign Media Association Turkey (FMA)
IFEX
Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
PEN International
PEN America
PEN Canada
PEN Norway
Platform for Independent Journalism (P24)
Progressive Journalists Association (ÇGD)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Swedish PEN
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Turkey’s Journalists’ Union (TGS)