News & Statements – Foreign Media Association Turkey

The Foreign Media Association periodically issues statements about situations that concern its members, including threats to press freedom. These are shared through posts in English and Turkish on our official Twitter and Bluesky accounts. We also highlight the work of some of our members through our Instagram account. Do follow us!

This page also contains links to news items relevant to the work of journalists living in Turkey.

Recent news and information:

Council of State finalizes decision to lift ban on capturing police footage in Turkey (Duvar English, 25 January 2025)
Journalists working in Turkey can apply for the International Press Card (IPC) via the Journalists Union of Turkey (Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikasi), a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
Reminder: Article 82 of Law No 298 on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers allows members of the press to film and take photos at polling stations as long as they don’t interfere with voting procedures at the site.
Rights of journalists covering elections in Turkey: What you should know (MLSA, 5 May 2023)
State of emergency declared: What does it mean for journalists covering the earthquake? (MLSA, 9 February 2023)

Latest FMA statements:

Joint statement: Press freedom and journalist organisations call for the release of journalist Fatih Altaylı (25 June 2025)
Ortak basın bildirisi: Basın ve ifade özgürlüğü ile basın meslek kuruluşları gazeteci Fatih Altaylı’nın serbest bırakılmasını talep ediyor (25 Hazıran 2025)
Statement on the detention of journalists Timur Soykan and Murat Ağırel (10 April 2025)
Journalists should not be detained or arrested for reporting on protests (28 March 2025)
Joint statement: call for action as press freedom violations surge in Turkey in 2025 (5 February 2025)
Joint statement: open letter urges EU to act against threat to freedoms in proposed “agent of influence” bill (10 December 2024)

Previous statements:

Joint statement condemning regulator’s decision to shutter Açık Radyo (18 October 2024)
FMA Condemns the Sentencing of Turkish Journalist Bülent Mumay (22 August 2024)
FMA Türk Gazeteci Bülent Mumay’a Verilen Cezayı Kınıyor (22 Ağustos 2024)
Joint statement condemning broadcast regulator’s silencing of Açık Radyo (10 July 2024)
Joint statement: International groups condemn arrest of journalist Tolga Şardan / Uluslararası kuruluşlar gazeteci Tolga Şardan’ın tutuklanmasını kınadı (2 November 2023)
FMA condemns the 1 year 8 month prison sentence given to member Bülent Mumay (5 May 2023)
Statement welcoming the acquittal of journalist and FMA member Nazlan Ertan (24 January 2023)
Statement in solidarity with RSF’s Turkey rep Erol Önderoğlu and his co-defendants (19 October 2022)
Statement on the unlawful expelling of Greek journalist Evangelos Areteos from Turkey (29 August 2022)
Online broadcast licensing goes against press freedom (23 February 2022)
İnternet Ortamında Yayın Lisansı Basın Özgürlüğüne Aykırıdır (23 Şubat 2022)
FMA stands in solidarity with BBC Istanbul bureau staff who are asking for fair compensation in line with BBC’s global norms & the double-digit inflation rate reported in Turkey. (7 December 2021)
Statement regarding police treatment of journalists during Pride events (29 June 2021)
Onur yürüyüşünü sırasında muhabirlere polisin yaptığı muamele hakkında açıklaması (29 Hazıran 2021)
Statement on the conviction of journalist Deniz Yücel (16 July 2020)
Refusal of press card for German journalists (10 March 2019)
Press card renewal (1 March 2019)
Ans Boersma (17 January 2019)