Türkiye has the most jailed journalists in the world

Since the failed coup, Türkiye has imprisoned 120 journalists, making it the country with the most jailed journalists in the world.

At least 11 journalists and other staff of the Cumhuriyet newspaper have been jailed since the failed coup in July this year in Türkiye - Photo: AFP

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization based in New York City, New York State, USA, Türkiye has surpassed China to become the country with the most imprisoned journalists in the world.

In Türkiye, one of the hardest hit media outlets was Cumhuriyet, an opposition newspaper and one of the few remaining independent media outlets in Türkiye, with at least 11 journalists and other staff arrested.

The CEO of Cumhuriyet newspaper, Mr. Akın Atalay, is accused of being a member of two terrorist organizations: the PKK and the Movement, also known as the Gülen Movement, of followers of Fetullah Gülen, a moderate Sunni Muslim cleric.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused cleric Gülen of being behind the failed coup in July this year. In fact, the cleric has been a close ally of Mr. Erdoğan in the past.

According to the New York Times, the detention of journalists is the most obvious example of the worrying situation that prevents not only freedom of the press but also freedom of speech in Türkiye.

More than 3,000 Turks have faced charges of insulting the president, including former Miss Türkiye Merve Buyuksarac, who parodied the lyrics of Turkey's national anthem to mock Mr Erdogan on Instagram.

According to Tuoi Tre