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Turkey’s Disinformation Law Has Led to Over 100 Charges Against Journalists
Turkish authorities have charged journalists 114 times under the country’s controversial disinformation law since its implementation in October 2022, according to comprehensive data compiled by independent journalism platform Veriler Ne Diyor? (What does my data say?).
The legislation, which criminalized “publicly spreading misleading information” under the Turkish Penal Code, has resulted in 54 investigations and 39 court cases against media professionals. The crackdown has included 11 detentions and 10 arrests specifically related to reporting activities.
These findings directly contradict February statements from Feti Yıldız, a senior lawmaker with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who played a key role in facilitating the legislation. Yıldız had claimed the law “has no issue with news or journalists,” despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
While most investigations—41 out of 54—concluded without formal prosecution, journalists have faced significant legal pressure through alternative measures. Courts have imposed restrictions including house arrest, travel bans, and mandatory check-ins with police authorities rather than immediate imprisonment in several cases.
Three journalists have received prison sentences under the law. Sinan Aygül was initially sentenced to 10 months in 2023 over a social media post before being acquitted following a higher court ruling. Yüsra Batıhan of the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya Agency (MA) and commentator Sedef Kabaş, who operates her own YouTube channel, also received 10-month sentences in separate cases related to earthquake reporting and economic commentary, respectively.
Some journalists have been targeted repeatedly. İsmail Arı of BirGün newspaper has faced the charge six times and was arrested in March. Alican Uludağ, a journalist with Deutsche Welle Turkish, is currently imprisoned on separate charges while simultaneously facing multiple investigations under the disinformation provision.
The law’s application intensified significantly during coverage of the devastating earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey in February 2023, killing over 50,000 people and causing widespread destruction. Between February 2023 and January 2024, authorities charged at least 14 journalists for their reporting from earthquake-affected regions, particularly regarding aid distribution issues and access restrictions.
In one revealing case, a journalist’s report about unrest in a prison following the earthquake—which formed the basis for prosecution—was later confirmed by official correspondence during trial proceedings, highlighting the questionable nature of many charges.
Excluding partial years from the analysis, the data shows an average of approximately 29 journalists charged annually under the provision since its introduction. The trend continues in 2026, with authorities already bringing charges against eight journalists by early April, including recent detentions related to reporting and social media activity.
Press freedom organizations have consistently raised alarms about Turkey’s media environment. The country ranked 159th out of 180 countries in the “2025 World Press Freedom Index” published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), reflecting its ongoing challenges with journalistic independence.
Media experts note that the disinformation law represents just one tool in a broader framework of legal measures used to control press coverage in Turkey. The pattern of targeting journalists reporting on sensitive topics—particularly disaster response, economic conditions, and Kurdish issues—suggests the law functions primarily as a mechanism for information control rather than combating actual misinformation.
As international scrutiny continues, journalists within Turkey face increasingly difficult conditions for conducting independent reporting, with many forced to navigate complex legal threats while attempting to inform the public about matters of significant public interest.
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10 Comments
I’m curious to see how this will impact reporting on the mining, energy, and commodities sectors in Turkey. Journalists need to be able to investigate and report freely without fear of repercussions.
This is a concerning development for press freedom in Turkey. The disinformation law seems to be a pretext for cracking down on critical journalism, which is troubling for a democracy.
I wonder how this law will impact reporting on important issues like the mining and energy sectors in Turkey. Journalists need to be able to investigate and report freely without fear of repercussions.
This is a worrying trend. A healthy democracy requires a free press that can hold the government accountable. I hope Turkey reconsiders this law and its application.
This is a very troubling development. The disinformation law seems to be a thinly veiled attempt to stifle critical reporting and independent journalism in Turkey.
It’s disappointing to see the Turkish government going back on its promises that this law would not target journalists. This is a clear attack on press freedom.
This crackdown on press freedom is very concerning. A healthy democracy requires a free and independent media that can hold the government accountable. I hope Turkey reconsiders this law.
The high number of charges against journalists in such a short time is extremely alarming. This could have serious implications for Turkey’s economy and international standing.
The charges against 83 journalists in less than a year is extremely concerning. This crackdown on press freedom could have broader implications for Turkey’s economy and international standing.
It’s disappointing to see the government go back on its claims that the law would not target journalists. The high number of charges against media professionals suggests this law is being abused.