Turkish journalist sentenced to prison for 'threatening' Erdogan

Fatih Altaylı, one of the country’s best-known journalists and political commentators, was sentenced to four years and two months in jail

Turkey’s Supreme Criminal Court sentenced journalist Fatih Altaylı to four years and two months in prison for allegedly “threatening” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a political comment during a live broadcast on YouTube.

One of the best-known and respected journalists in the country, Altaylı is 63 years old and has presented TV programs and managed communication networks, until creating his own YouTube channel.

He was arrested on June 21, just hours after an excerpt from his broadcast went viral on social media.

In the video, he provides a political analysis commenting on a poll indicating that 70% of the Turkish public would oppose a proposal to allow the Turkish president to remain in power indefinitely.

Convicted journalist: another step in the erosion of press freedom in Türkiye

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) denounced the conviction as “another alarming step in the ongoing erosion of press freedom in Türkiye” and calls for the journalist’s immediate release.

During the hearing, Faith Altaylı said:

“There is nothing that the president could have been afraid of or perceived as a threat from my comment. I don’t have that influence.”

He was sentenced to four years and two months in prison by the criminal court. Altaylı’s lawyers said they would appeal the decision.

“The sentencing of Fatih Altaylı, a prominent and respected journalist in Turkey, represents another alarming step in the ongoing erosion of press freedom in the country,” said the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

The organization completed:

“Journalists must be able to report, question and hold those in power accountable without fear of retaliation.

When the justice system is used to silence critical voices, it is ultimately the public who loses their right to be informed. We call for the immediate release of Fatih Altaylı and all journalists in prison.”

According to IFJ statistics, 21 journalists are currently imprisoned in Türkiye. The country is frequently listed as one of the worst in the world for independent journalism.

Turkey ranks 150th on Reporters Without Borders’ Global Press Freedom Index, which lists 180 nations.