Amed — Reports by human rights organizations continue to document violations by Turkish authorities against journalists, including detention, arrest, digital restrictions, and field obstruction, amid warnings about the impact of these practices on press freedom.

The Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG) and the Tigris and Euphrates Journalists Association (DFG) issued a joint report documenting human rights violations against journalists during the month of July, highlighting detention, arrest, and ongoing trials.

The MKG report affirmed that interventions and obstruction of journalists' work constitute a violation of the public's right to access information, noting that the attacks are not isolated incidents but attempts to conceal social facts, crimes, corruption, grievances, and legal and environmental violations, making them a direct obstacle to uncovering the truth. The report, citing data from the 2026 World Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders, indicated that Turkey ranks 163rd out of 180 countries.

Detention of Five Women Journalists

The report noted that during July in Turkey, journalists were subjected to a series of violations, including raids on the homes of two journalists, the detention of five others, the arrest of one journalist, the summons of another for interrogation, and the opening of investigations against two journalists, in addition to one recorded case of threats and targeting.

The report explained that trials of 11 journalists due to their professional activities continue, while eight journalists are held in various prisons within the country. The report also documented restrictions imposed on digital media, with 17 accounts on social media platforms closed and 11 digital media platforms blocked during the same month.

The MKG organization called for an end to all forms of repression against journalists in the name of press freedom and democratic society, and demanded the release of imprisoned journalists.

DFG: Press Freedom Must Be Guaranteed

The Tigris and Euphrates Journalists Association (DFG) revealed in its report issued in July that journalists faced detention, arrest, threats, and legal prosecutions due to their reports, publications, and professional activities. The report indicated that the operations preceding the NATO summit, the obstacles to field coverage, in addition to restrictions on access to digital platforms, reflect the continued pressure on press freedom in multiple forms.

The report noted that 12 journalists were arrested in July, including Cumhuriyet newspaper correspondent Gülümser Saydam, journalist Fatma Sebil Gürcehan, T24 editor Boz Söğütlü, Odatv editor Serin Erdoğan, Niha+ correspondent Abbas Fural, Azadiya Welat editor-in-chief Perwin Ay, journalist Hezar Dost, Bir Gün correspondent Ayhan, DW Türkçe correspondent Alican Uludağ, and journalists Ali Taş, Firman Kardash, and Cim Koçuk.

The report indicated that the reasons for the journalists' detention included their news coverage, social media posts, and previous participation in protests. Among the 12 detained journalists, Fatma Sebil Gürcehan and Cim Koçuk were formally arrested.

The report highlighted that among the most significant developments in July was the implementation of security operations prior to the NATO summit held in Ankara on July 7 and 8. During these operations, Boz Söğütlü (foreign news editor at T24), Serin Erdoğan (Odatv editor), Abbas Fural (Niha+ correspondent), and journalist Hezar Dost were arrested. Hezar Dost reported being subjected to mistreatment during detention, including being denied access to toilets, deprived of his regular medication, insulted inside the police vehicle, and physically assaulted during transfer to court.

The report explained that July witnessed direct police intervention against journalists covering protests in Kurtuluş Park against the NATO summit. Security forces surrounded journalists and protesters with shields to prevent filming, and removed workers from the site to prevent photography. This intervention was recorded as a clear violation of journalists' right to cover public events and inform the public.

During the same month, authorities continued to detain and interrogate journalists over their social media posts, while trials of 33 journalists continued across 14 different cases. Court sessions saw the release of some journalists following acquittals, while adjournment decisions and continued judicial supervision revealed the ongoing pressures imposed by legal procedures on those working in journalism.

In July, online news platforms and journalists' social media accounts faced extensive access restrictions. During the same month, access was blocked to 20 digital media materials, including two news articles and two news websites. Across Turkey, courts issued 11 decisions banning the publication of various news items during the same month.

Data issued in July 2026 show that the suppression of press freedom in Turkey is not carried out through a single method, but through a series of complementary tactics including detention, arrest, investigation, trial, threats, obstruction of news coverage, publication bans, and digital access restrictions.

According to the report, the detention, arrest, and interrogation of journalists due to their news reports and digital media posts; the prevention of journalists from covering news in the field; and the blocking of access to news websites and digital media accounts reveal that the problems facing press freedom in Turkey persist. Journalists' right to report news and the public's right to accurate and free information must not be infringed upon. Press freedom must be guaranteed; journalists must not face investigation, detention, or arrest for their professional activities; and digital censorship practices must be ended.