1. 1
A MONITORING REPORT ON
VIOLATIONS OF PRESS FREEDOM IN TURKEY
A total of 50 media workers were put in prison until 30 September 2010, according to
data collected from the Turkish Ministry of Justice, the Solidarity with Imprisoned Journalists
Platform and other sources. Among the 50 media workers in prisons, 44 of them are currently
awaiting trials while 6 of them were given prison sentence.
In addition to the number of Turkish journalists who were put in prisons since January
2009, it is estimated that more than 100 journalists are currently under the threat of prison
sentence; and over 1.200 cases are awaiting trials in prisons.
IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS
NAME / MEDIA
ORGANISATION
CASE
1. Mustafa Balbay, Cumhuriyet
newspaper Ankara
Representative
On trial under arrest in the second trial of
Ergenekon Case.
Released by the court in July 5th
2009 after
being detained on July 1st
2009. Detained
again on March 5th
2009.
Arrested on March 6th
2009.
Currently in Silivri Prison.
The trial continues.
Next hearing: September 2nd
2010.
2. Tuncay Özkan, owner of the
Kanal Biz television, journalist
On trial under arrest in the second trial of
Ergenekon Case
Detained on September 23rd
2008. Arrested
on September 27th
2008.
Imprisoned in Silivri Prison
The trial continues.
Next hearing: September 2nd
2010.
3. Hikmet Çiçek, Aydınlık journal
Ankara Representative
On trial in the Ergenekon Case.
Detained on March 25th
2008
Arrested on March 29th
2008
Imprisoned in Silivri Prison
The trial continues.
4. Emcet Olcaytu, Aydınlık
columnist
On trial under arrest in the second trial of
Ergenekon Case.
Detained on September 23rd
2008.
Arrested on September 26th
2008
Currently in Silivri Prison.
The trial continues.
Last hearing on September 2nd
2010.
5. Deniz Yıldırım, Aydınlık
journal executive Editor
Detained on November 8th
2009 for
publishing the phone conversations between
the Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdoğan
2. 2
and KKTC (Northern Cyprus Turkish
Republic) President Mehmet Ali Talat in
Aydınlık Journal
Currently in Silivri Prison.
The trial continues.
6. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Haberal,
Kanal B Television, Chairman
of Board of Directors / Rector of
Başkent University
On trial under arrest in the second trial of
Ergenekon Case.
Currently in Silivri Prison.
7. Vedat Kurşun, Azadiya Welat
newspaper, former Editor-in-
Chief
Given 3-year sentence in prison on the
ground of promoting terrorist organisations
in its articles published on Azadiya Welat
newspaper on August 11th
-12th
2007.
In the hearing in Diyarbakır 5th
High
Criminal Court on May 13th
2010, he was
given a 154-year-and-6-month sentence for
having promoted terrorist organisations in
his articles published in Azadiya Welat
newspaper between August 2006 and June
2008.
Together with the sentence in the other trial
in 4th
High Criminal Court, he was given a
169 year-and-6-month sentence in prison.
Currently in Diyarbakır D Type Prison.
8. Suzan Zengin, İşçi-Köylü
office worker at newspaper
Kartal
Detained on August 28th
2009 after the
police raided her house.
Currently in Bakırköy Prison for Women
and Juveniles.
Was denied medical treatment while in
prison. The first hearing was on August 26th
2010 after spending12 months of in prison.
Suzan Zengin accused the Government of
being responsible for the deterioration of
her health conditions because she was
denied medical treatment during her
imprisonment.
The trial continues and the hearing was
scheduled on February 15th
2011. (August
26th
2010)
9. Erol Zavar, Odak journal
owner and Editor in Chief
Currently in Sincan F Type Prison
10. Füsun Erdoğan, Özgür Radyo
Executive Editor
On trial for the MLKP case.
Detained onSeptember 8th
2006
Arrested on September 12th
2006.
Imprisoned in Gebze M Type Prison. Next
hearing in Beşiktaş 10th
High Criminal
Court is on December 10th
2010.
11. İbrahim Çiçek, Atılım
newspaper Executive Editor
On trial for the MLKP case.
Detained on September 8th
2006
3. 3
Arrested on September 12th
2006.
Imprisoned in Gebze M Type Prison. The
next hearing in Beşiktaş 10th
High Criminal
Court is on December 10th
2010.
12. Sedat Şenoğlu, Atılım
newspaper Executive
Coordinator
On trial in MLKP case.
Detained on operation called Gaye in
September 8th
2006
Arrested on September 12th
2006.
Imprisoned in Edirne No 1 F Type Prison.
Next hearing in Beşiktaş 10th
High Criminal
Court on December 10th
2010.
13. Bayram Namaz , Atılım
newspaper columnist
On trial for the MLKP case.
Detained on September 8th 2006
Arrested on September 12th
2006.
In Edirne No 1 F Type Prison.
Next hearing in Beşiktaş 10th
High Criminal
Court:December 10th
2010.
14. Ziya Ulusoy, Atılım newspaper
columnist
On trial for the MLKP case.
Detained on September 8th 2006
Arrested on September 12th
2006.
In Tekirdağ No 1 F Type Prison.
Next hearing in Beşiktaş 10th
High Criminal
Court: December 10th
2010.
15. Hasan Coşar, Atılım newspaper
columnist
Detained on March 28th
2009 in İzmir.
Arrested on March 29th
2009.
Has been sentenced to 10 years and 10
months by the Ankara 11th
High Criminal
Court for being a manager of the an “illegal
organisation” and promoting the
organisation.
In Sincan F Type Prison.
16. Ahmet Birsin, Diyarbakır Gün
TV Executive Coordinator
Detained and arrested on April 14th
2009 in
operations against PKK organisation in
several cities.
In Diyarbakır D Type Prison.
17. Barış Açıkel, İşçi-Köylü
newspaper, owner and Editor-in-
Chief
Kandıra No 1 F Type Prison
18. Hatice Duman, Atılım
newspaper, owner and Editor-in-
Chief
Gebze M Type Prison
19. Mahmut Tutal, Gündem
newspaper, Şanlıurfa worker
Şanlıurfa E Type Prison
20. Mustafa Gök, Ekmek and
Adalet journal, Ankara
Representative
Sincan F Type Prison
21. Metin Bulut, Yürüyüş journal,
owner and Editor-in-Chief
Kandıra No 2 F Type Prison
22. Bayram Parlak, Gündem
newspaper, Mersin
Karaman-Ermenek M Type Prison
4. 4
Representative
23. Şafak Gümüşsoy, Mücadele
Birliği journal, former Editor-in-
Chief
In Bolu Mengen Prison
24. Gülşen Bozan, Özgür Kadın
journal, worker
In Bursa Closed Prison
25. İhsan Silmiş, Azadiya Welat
newspaper, worker
Detained on October 15th
2009
26. Kenan Karavil, Radyo Dünya
(Adana), Editorial Director
Detained on December 7th
2009.
Arrested on December 11th
2009 for being a
member of an “illegal organization”
In Kürkçüler F Type Prison.
The case was concluded on February 4th
2010. He was given a 10-month sentence
under Article 7.2 Anti-Terror Law (TMK)
for promoting terrorist organistions.
27. Şeyhmus Bilgin, Günlük and
Azadiya Welat newspaper
worker
Detained on December 7th
2009.
Arrested on December 11th
2009
In Adana Kürkçüler Prison.
28. Seyithan Akyüz, Azadiya
Welat newspaper, Adana
Representative
Detained on December 7th
2009.
Arrested on December 11th
2009.
Was given 2-year sentence for promoting
terrorist organisations.
In Adana Kürkçüler Prison.
29. Şahin Baydağı, Azadiya Welat,
newspaper distributor
Detained on January 12th
2010 In Mardin E
Type Closed Prison.
30. Dilek Keskin, Atılım
newspaper İstanbul
correspondent
Detained and arrested in Antakya
In Antakya E Type Prison.
31. Sabri Adanır, Gündem
newspaper, Cizre Representative,
newspaper distributor
Arrested on charges of “aiding illegal
organisation” in 2006.
After the trial, he was sentenced to 6 years
and 3 months by Diyarbakır High Criminal
Court.
Not formally charged. Still imprisoned.
32. Erdal Süsem, Eylül Culture and
Art journal editor
Detained on January 31st
2010 during the
Devrimci Karargâh investigation.
Arrested on February 7th
2010 for related to
the Maoist Communist Party.
In Edirne F Type Prison.
33. Hatice Özhan, DİHA
Diyarbakır correspondent
Detained in Diyarbakır and taken to Ağrı in
February 17th
2010.
Arrested on February 19th
2010 for
promoting terrorist organisations.
In Ağrı Prison.
34. Gurbet Çakar, Rengê Hêvîya
Jinê Journal (Kadının
Umudunun Rengi-The Color
of Woman’s Hope), Managing
Arrested by the Diyarbakır Public
Prosecution on March 20th
2010.
In Diyarbakır E Type Prison.
5. 5
Editor in Chief
35. Hamdiye Çiftçi, Dicle Haber
Ajansı (DİHA), Hakkâri
correspondent
Arrested on June 14th
2010)
In Bitlis E Type Closed Prison.
36. Mahmut Güleycan, Özgür
Halk journal worker
In Van F Type Prison.
37. Ozan Kılınç, Azadiya Welat,
former Editor in Chief In Diyarbakır D Type Prison.
38. Ali Konar, Azadiya Welat
newspaper, Elazığ
Representative
Arrested on charges of being a member of a
terrorist organisations on May 27th
2010.
In Malatya E Type Prison.
39. Nuri Yeşil, Azadiya Welat
newspaper, Tunceli worker
40. Erdal Güler, Devrimci
Demokrasi newspaper owner
and former Editor in Chief
Detained and arrested on December 26th
2007.
Sentenced to 21 months in prison by the
İstanbul 11th
High Criminal Court.
Given a pecuniary penalty of 60.000TL.
41. Ali Buluş, DİHA Mersin
correspondent
Given 6-year-and-3-month sentence in
prison.
42. Mehmet Karaaslan, DİHA
Mersin correspondent
43. Faysal Tunç, DİHA Şırnak
correspondent
In Diyarbakır D Type Prison.
44. Behdin Tunç, DİHA Şırnak
correspondent
45. Bedri Adanır, Aram Yayınları
owner and Kurdish published
Hawar newspaper Editor in
Chief
Detained on January 5th
2010 while entering
Turkey from Iraq by the Habur Border
Checkpoint.
Arrested on January 12th
2010.
In Diyarbakır D Type Prison.
46. Abdulbesir Yapıcı, Azadiya
Welat newspaper Şanlıurfa
worker
Arrested on January 24th
2010
In Şanlıurfa E Type Prison.
47. Hakan Soytemiz, RED journal
author
Detained on September 21st
2010 Arrested
on September 25th
2010.
48. Özgür Aytukum, Demokratik
Dönüşüm journal, Editor in
Chief
Detained on September 21st
2010. Arrested
on September 25th
2010.
49. Baha Okar, Bilim and Gelecek
journal, editör
Detained on September 21st
2010.Arrested
on September 25th
2010.
50. H.B., Özgür halk journal,
worker
Detained in Mersin on September 24th
2010.
Arrested on September 26th
2010 In Mersin
E Type Prison.