Six journalists summoned in Turkey over coverage of detained opposition mayor

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last month |  JP Middle East Desk

Six Turkish journalists face investigation over reports on opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, as rights groups warn of deepening state pressure on Turkey's independent media.

Summary

ISTANBUL – Turkish authorities have summoned six prominent journalists in Istanbul over their reporting on detained opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, escalating concerns over the country’s shrinking space for independent media. According to reports, the journalists — Soner Yalçın, Şaban Sevinç, Aslı Aydın­taşbaş, Ruşen Çakır, Yavuz Oğhan, and Batuhan Çolak — are accused of “publicly disseminating false information” and allegedly assisting what officials described as the “İmamoğlu criminal organization for profit.”

Their homes were searched in early-morning raids, and phones and computers were seized as part of the investigation. While formal charges have yet to be filed, local press unions and rights groups denounced the move as an attempt to silence journalists who have been critical of the government.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and other media watchdogs have repeatedly ranked Türkiye among the world’s most restrictive environments for journalists. Critics argue that defamation and misinformation laws are increasingly being used to suppress dissent and investigative reporting.

İmamoğlu, a high-profile opposition figure and Istanbul’s elected mayor, has been detained on corruption and espionage charges widely viewed by his supporters as politically motivated. The journalists’ summons adds to growing fears of political interference in both judicial and media institutions, deepening the erosion of press freedom in the country.