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Turkey: 4 more journalists arrested for ‘spreading disinformation’ as media crackdown intensifies

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Turkey: 4 more journalists arrested for ‘spreading disinformation’ as media crackdown intensifies

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Istanbul, October 12, 2026—Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on independent media is continuing at an alarming pace with four more journalists arrested and placed under house arrest over the weekend on suspicion of publicly spreading disinformation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. 

On October 9, Turkish police questioned Mustafa Balcı and İsmail Saymaz from the independent Sözcü media outlet, freelancer Şaban Sevinç, and Murat Ağırel, who works for the independent Cumhuriyet and Onlar news outlets, about their reporting on a recent investment fund scandal.

Later that same day, an Istanbul court arrested Balcı and Sevinç on suspicion of “publicly spreading disinformation.” Saymaz and Ağırel, who were released after questioning on October 9 under judicial control – meaning a foreign travel ban and regular check-ins with the police – were placed under house arrest on October 10 after the prosecution lodged an objection to their releases. 

“By arresting Mustafa Balcı and Şaban Sevinç and placing İsmail Saymaz and Murat Ağırel under house arrest on suspicion of publicly spreading disinformation, Turkey continues to erode press freedom at an alarming rate. We are reaching a crisis point with at least 22 journalists arrested or detained under the disinformation law this year alone,” said Özgür Öğret, CPJ’s Turkey representative. “All of the journalists who were either imprisoned or placed under house arrest must be immediately freed and Turkey’s disinformation law should be abolished without delay.” 

At the time of publishing, CPJ could not determine what content produced by Balcı and Sevinç formed the basis of their arrests. After he was summoned by the police to testify, Balcı said in a post on X that he believed he was going to be questioned about his reporting on the investment fund scandal.

Saymaz and Ağırel were questioned about their participation in a live broadcast on Sözcü TV on October 7. Writing in their regular columns in Sözcü and Cumhuriyet on Monday, they denied spreading disinformation. 

These new arrests come after Faruk Acar, deputy chair of the ruling AKP party in charge of publicity and media, threatened journalists who report so-called false news in comments posted on X on October 8. Turkish authorities have also blocked access to thousands of social media accounts belonging to journalists and rights defenders as part of the media crackdown.

CPJ emailed the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for comment but did not receive a reply.

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