Turkey Detains Prominent Journalist Amid Widening Crackdown on Press and Opposition
ANKARA, June 21, 2025 — Turkish authorities detained prominent independent journalist Fatih Altayli on Saturday following allegations that he made threatening remarks about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media, escalating concerns about press freedom in the country.
Altayli, who has over 1.5 million followers on his YouTube channel, published a video referencing a survey indicating that 70% of Turks oppose Erdogan serving for life. In his commentary, Altayli stated, “The Turkish people will not allow this,” and drew historical parallels to Ottoman rulers who were “drowned,” “killed,” or “eliminated” in the past. The Istanbul prosecutor’s office said these comments constituted threats against the president and announced an official investigation into Altayli.
Efforts to reach Altayli’s legal representatives were unsuccessful. His arrest comes amid a broader government campaign targeting opposition figures and journalists. In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan’s main political rival, was jailed on corruption charges, sparking the largest wave of protests in Turkey in more than a decade and leading to the detention of several journalists covering the unrest.
The main opposition party, CHP, claims these detentions are politically motivated attempts to suppress dissent and eliminate electoral competition. The government denies these assertions, maintaining that Turkey’s judiciary operates independently.
International watchdogs and press freedom advocates have criticized Turkey’s recent actions, citing a pattern of arrests, raids on journalists’ homes, and regulatory threats against media outlets reporting on protests and opposition activities. Since March, dozens of journalists and thousands of protesters have been detained, with many in the press facing charges for their coverage of anti-government demonstrations.
Turkey has long faced international scrutiny over its treatment of journalists and the state of press freedom, with the majority of national media under government control and numerous journalists prosecuted or imprisoned in recent years.
The latest developments underscore deepening concerns about democracy and freedom of expression in Turkey as President Erdogan’s administration intensifies its crackdown on opposition voices and independent media.