Taking part in the meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), on 19 and 20 October, the EFJ President Maja Sever supported the IFJ’s motion expressing solidarity with journalists, trade unions, and professional organizations in Turkey in their fight against censorship, intimidation and the criminalization of journalism.

The IFJ Executive Committee, considering:

the increasing repression of independent journalism in Türkiye, including the detention and prosecution of journalists, restrictions on media outlets, the appointment of government-appointed trustees to media organizations and the blocking of journalists’ social media accounts;

the fundamental right of journalists to report freely, investigate matters of public interest and hold those in power accountable, without intimidation, censorship or criminal prosecution for their legitimate professional activities;

The joint call by Turkish journalists’ professional organizations for nationwide demonstrations on 24 October 2026, marking the first anniversary of the appointment of a trustee to TELE 1;

Resolves:

First: To express its full solidarity with journalists, their trade unions and professional organizations in Türkiye in their struggle against censorship, intimidation and the criminalization of journalism.

Second: To strongly condemn all forms of repression targeting independent media and to demand the release of journalists detained solely for carrying out their professional duties.

Third: To support the nationwide mobilization organized by Turkish journalists’ organizations on 24 October 2026 and their legitimate demands for press freedom, editorial independence and the public’s right to information.

Fourth: To urge the Turkish authorities to respect their international obligations concerning freedom of expression and press freedom, and to put an end to judicial harassment, arbitrary restrictions and political interference in the media.

Together with the IFJ Executive Committee, the EFJ reaffirms that journalism is not a crime, press freedom is not negotiable, and the public’s right to know must never be denied.