Turkish prosecutors questioned the head of the İzmir Journalists Association (İGC) on Monday regarding a statement issued by the association criticizing politicians from Turkey’s ruling party and its nationalist ally for allegedly pressuring journalists over their coverage, the BirGün daily reported.
Prosecutors questioned İGC President Dilek Gappi on alleged false accusations and publicly disseminated misleading information in the association’s August 21 statement, titled “Journalists Are Nobody’s Orderlies.” The statement criticized ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Secretary-General Eyyüp Kadir İnan and Veysel Şahin, the İzmir provincial chair of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the AKP’s nationalist ally, for their treatment of journalists and called on both politicians to apologize.
In one incident, the İGC said, Şahin reacted to a report about tensions at a meeting held in support of Turkey’s ongoing peace process with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). He allegedly called the reporter and demanded that the report be removed, then called the outlet’s editor-in-chief and insulted him.
The peace initiative, launched in late 2024 following a call by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, aims to end the PKK’s four-decade conflict with the Turkish state, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
In the other incident İnan allegedly insulted a journalist over a report claiming that a visit was planned to persuade the mayor of Bergama to join the AKP. The İGC said İnan referred to the journalist and his report as “trash.”
In its statement, the İGC said no one had the right to dictate to journalists and that insulting them for doing their job was unacceptable.
After the İGC issued its statement, İnan responded sharply to Gappi, questioning her right to criticize him as a lawmaker and accusing her of disrespecting the political will of İzmir voters.
In her statement to prosecutors, Gappi said the İGC had acted in line with its responsibility to protect the dignity of journalism and would continue to speak out against attempts to pressure journalists.
Five journalism, publishing and writers’ organizations — the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC), the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), the Turkish Publishers Association (TÜRKYAYBİR), the Writers’ Union of Turkey (TYS) and PEN Turkey — issued a joint statement in solidarity with the İGC and Gappi.
The organizations said defending journalists against pressure was a fundamental responsibility of professional organizations and that questioning Gappi threatened the public’s right to information. They said public authority should not be used to silence or intimidate journalists or force organizations defending them to back down, adding that politicians in a democratic society should tolerate criticism and use legal remedies proportionately.
Journalists in Turkey critical of the government or its political allies have faced increasing scrutiny under laws criminalizing “insulting public officials,” “disinformation” and “terrorist propaganda.”
According to Expression Interrupted, a press freedom monitoring group, 19 journalists are currently behind bars in Turkey. The country’s deteriorating media landscape was further pointed out in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where it was ranked 163rd out of 180 nations.
