Thousands protest in Istanbul and Ankara over pressure on journalists
Demonstrators on October 24, 2026, protested arrests, media closures and the appointment of directors in Turkish newsrooms.
Thousands of people gathered on October 24, 2026, in Istanbul and Ankara to protest what they described as mounting pressure on journalists across Turkey, including arrests, the closure of media outlets and the appointment of new directors in newsrooms.
Organizers said the crowd in Istanbul swelled to several thousand, with at least 3,000 assembling on the city's Asian side. Demonstrators held up photographs of imprisoned reporters and chanted slogans condemning recent moves against independent media.
Who joined the demonstrations
The marchers were largely journalists, members of human rights organizations and representatives of opposition parties. Protesters carried banners and repeatedly shouted translated slogans such as "Enough. We can no longer breathe," along with "We will not be silent, enough!" and "We will not submit to the pressure."
Speakers at both rallies denounced recent arrests and the forced closures of outlets, saying the appointment of management in some media houses amounted to state control over editorial lines. Demonstrators called for the release of jailed journalists and for safeguards to protect press freedom.
The protests come amid long-running concerns about media independence in Turkey and follow several high-profile cases of prosecutions and shutdowns that critics say have narrowed the space for dissenting voices.
Photo: press material from the event
