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# Turkey – Disinformation Law Journalist Crackdowns (2026) ## Overview Turkish authorities have increasingly invoked the country's disinformation law to arrest journalists, drawing sustained criticism from press freedom organizations. Turkish authorities arrested Mehmet Yetim, editor-in-chief of local broadcaster Kulis TV in Şanlıurfa, in the early hours of April 18, 2026, under Turkey's disinformation law (CPJ, April 21, 2026). The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Turkish authorities to stop what it characterizes as improper and excessive use of these laws against journalists, calling on them to "stop their improper and excessive use" of the law against journalists (CPJ, April 21, 2026). ## Disinformation Law Background Turkey enacted a sweeping disinformation law in 2022 that criminalizes the spread of "false information" about the state, carrying prison terms of up to three years. Turkey's disinformation law, which critics argue is broadly drafted, has reportedly been used by authorities to target journalists covering sensitive political and regional issues. The law creates criminal liability for spreading what authorities deem false information, with wide prosecutorial discretion over what constitutes disinformation. Critics, including international press freedom organizations, have characterized the law as a tool for suppressing critical journalism rather than combating genuine disinformation. ## Mehmet Yetim Arrest (April 2026) On April 18, 2026, police took Mehmet Yetim, editor-in-chief of the local broadcaster Kulis TV, into custody in the early hours in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa (CPJ, April 21). Turkish authorities reportedly charged Yetim with spreading disinformation. The CPJ condemned the arrest and called for his release, framing it as part of a broader pattern of misuse of the disinformation statute against members of the press (CPJ, April 21). Additional details: - Arrested in custody April 18, 2026, in Şanlıurfa province - Editor-in-chief of Kulis TV, a local broadcaster - Arrest occurred in early morning hours, a pattern associated with politically motivated detentions in Turkey - CPJ is actively monitoring and advocating for his release (CPJ, April 21, 2026) - No charges formally specified in available reporting (per one account), though another account states Turkish authorities reportedly charged Yetim with spreading disinformation ## Legal Framework at Issue Turkey's disinformation law, which critics argue is broadly drafted, has reportedly been used by authorities to target journalists covering sensitive political and regional issues. The law creates criminal liability for spreading what authorities deem false information, with wide prosecutorial discretion over what constitutes disinformation. ## Broader Press Freedom Context This page exists within an existing wiki entry on Turkey's disinformation law crackdowns. Yetim's case joins a documented wave of journalist detentions in Turkey, which ranks among the world's top jailers of journalists. The CPJ has also filed submissions in Tajikistan and is tracking Kazakhstan's arrest wave, indicating a regional pattern of post-Soviet and Muslim-majority state press suppression. ## Strategic Importance / Relevance This narrative has recurring significance for: - **Press freedom litigation**: International advocacy organizations and foreign governments are monitoring Turkey's use of disinformation statutes, which may inform similar legislative debates in other jurisdictions. - **EU-Turkey relations**: Turkey's treatment of journalists remains a live issue in its relationship with European institutions. - **Cross-border media law**: The use of broadly drafted speech-restriction laws against journalists is a pattern appearing across multiple jurisdictions (Kazakhstan, India) tracked in connected pages. - **Media organizations, legal counsel, and NGOs**: For media organizations, legal counsel advising journalists, and NGOs operating in Turkey, the continued weaponization of disinformation statutes creates significant operating risk. The law's vague "false information" standard provides authorities broad discretion, making compliance functionally impossible for adversarial journalism. ## Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) The CPJ is a New York-based nonprofit that independently monitors journalist arrests and press freedom conditions globally. Its reporting on Turkey in April 2026 is part of ongoing documentation of cases in the country. ## Ongoing Developments - CPJ advocacy ongoing as of April 21, 2026 - No charges formally specified in available reporting - Turkey's Central Bank maintained rate holds amid ceasefire inflation relief in the same period