Number of jailed journalists increased five-fold in three years: CHP MP

ANKARA

The number of journalists jailed in Turkey increased almost five-fold between 2015 and 2018, according to a report released by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) lawmaker Utku Çakırözer.

At the end of 2015, the number of jailed journalists was 31, while the figure skyrocketed to 145 by December this year, Çakırözer said.

“Over 400 years of prison sentences given to 74 journalists in the first 11 months of 2018 have been finalized [in courts],” the CHP MP said.

Çakırözer’s report also included fines imposed by the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) on TV channels and radios. The report said that in the first 10 months of 2018 Turkey’s top media watchdog issued a fine of 4,653,451 Turkish Liras (approximately $880 million) in total.

Çakırözer released his report on Dec. 10 World Human Rights Day, which marks the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.