Erol Önderoğlu, the Turkey Representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), spoke to ANF about the increasing pressure, censorship, detentions and arrests targeting the free and opposition press under the Justice and Development Party (AKP)–Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) government. Önderoğlu emphasized that, at this stage, laws are being used as a political instrument and a weapon against journalists, adding: “In a place where democratic rights on paper are applied in a way that breaks over journalists’ backs every day, it is not possible to speak of democracy.”
Laws are being used as a weapon against journalists
Erol Önderoğlu pointed out that pressure on journalists in Turkey has reached an unprecedented level. Önderoğlu said: “Reporters covering social protests are confronted with violence and legal pressure. Investigative journalists are subjected to targeted detentions and arrests. There has been a significant increase in the closure of news channels, the blocking of journalists’ access to information directly from the state and private institutions, particularly online censorship, and measures aimed at severing journalism’s connection with the public.”
Önderoğlu cited the arrest of reporters who documented police violence with footage and photographs during the protests that began in Saraçhane on March 19, 2025, following the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and Republican People’s Party (CHP) presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoğlu and said: “They clearly do not want journalists to witness what is happening on the ground. This is the greatest danger for our profession.” Önderoğlu also stressed that, at this stage, laws are being used as a political instrument and a weapon against journalists, adding: “Therefore, the threat facing our profession is not a single one. The future of journalism is being undermined. Journalism in Turkey is being reduced to a public relations function. There is a need for individuals who will promote what the government does, remain limited to that, and refrain from criticism. Therefore, the future of journalism in Turkey is at risk. Because pluralism in the media is being eliminated.”
Society must defend press freedom
Erol Önderoğlu stated that without transparency and without functioning democratic channels of communication, democracy can never be achieved in a country. He noted that it is not possible to speak of democracy in a place where democratic rights that exist on paper are implemented in a way that breaks over journalists’ backs every day.
Önderoğlu also emphasized the importance of society defending its own right to receive information, saying that what makes citizens a respected element of a democratic public sphere is their freedom to access the information they seek. He underlined that, in this sense, press freedom must be defended not only by journalists or professional organizations but by all segments of society, and added: “In order to access critical, independent and democratic information, to express themselves, and most importantly to be able to constitute a public, citizens must be able to reach information freely. All segments of society must oppose the restriction of information and the obstruction of access to information through censorship. Because what is fundamentally being eliminated here is their right to receive information.”
Professional solidarity must be strengthened
Erol Önderoğlu emphasized that solidarity within the profession must be strengthened, stating that the primary responsibility in this regard lies with press professional organizations. He said that dialogue among press organizations should progress on the basis of trust and that institutions should learn from each other’s conditions. Önderoğlu said: “Because the problems faced in the west, where the Izmir Journalists Association operates, may not be the same as those in the east, where the Southeast Journalists Association operates. Dialogue between institutions needs to function on the basis of trust, in a way that excludes no one. However, such ruptures occur due to polarization and lack of communication.”
Journalists must not hesitate to protest for their rights
Erol Önderoğlu stated that journalism organizations should document violations of journalists’ rights and disseminate them at both local and international levels, and that they should take to the streets more often to protest. Önderoğlu said: “In Turkey, as journalists and press institutions, we particularly withdrew from the streets after the state of emergency was declared following the July 15 coup attempt. However, if journalists are being deprived of their rights every day, they must never hesitate to protest in the streets. Look, most recently, on March 29, 2026, in Kadıköy, Istanbul, the march we wanted to hold for our imprisoned colleagues was blocked by a police cordon. That image of the blockade was in fact a summary of the pressure imposed on the journalism profession. The obstruction we faced was entirely anti-democratic and, in essence, a complete denial of journalistic rights.”
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