Reaction from the Journalists Association of Turkey to the T24 ruling: 'Democracy cannot be spoken of without a free press'

The Board of Directors of the Journalists Association of Turkey (TGC) has issued a statement regarding the decision by the Istanbul 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace to shut down and block access to the T24 news website and its social media accounts.

The TGC stated that the decision was "unlawful" and demanded its immediate reversal. The statement emphasized that the complete shutdown of an independent online news outlet has severe consequences for the democratic social order and the rule of law.

The Association expressed that it is impossible to justify the blackout of an entire media organization on legal grounds by citing articles and interviews published over the years on culture, arts, academia, economy, and social issues as evidence of a crime.

TGC: WHOLESALE SHUTDOWNS HINDER THE RIGHT TO BE INFORMED

The statement declared, "The complete shutdown of a media organization is an attempt to erase social memory and paralyze the channels through which citizens receive news." The TGC argued that this situation demonstrates the dangerous extent to which freedom of the press and expression has reached in Turkey.

The TGC's statement is as follows:

"Today, in 2026, the complete shutdown and blocking of access to T24, an independent online news site where dozens of journalists work, following ongoing disinformation and smear campaigns, is a heavy blow to the democratic social order and the rule of law.

The blackout of an entire media organization by treating columns and interviews covering culture, arts, academia, economy, and social issues published on a news site over the years as evidence of a crime cannot be explained by legal justifications or an understanding of a democratic society.

"THE SHUTDOWN IS AN ATTEMPT TO ERASE SOCIAL MEMORY"

The complete shutdown of a media organization is an attempt to erase social memory and paralyze the channels through which citizens receive news. This situation reveals the dangerous extent to which freedom of the press and expression has reached in our country.

The arbitrary access blocking and shutdown decisions that the Criminal Judgeships of Peace, established in 2014, have recently put on autopilot have become mechanisms of pressure devoid of judicial oversight. Ending the broadcasting life of a news site with a single court decision without relying on concrete evidence or the principles of proportionality and necessity directly targets the existence of the journalism profession.

This shutdown decision against T24 is fundamentally contrary to the Rule of Law in Article 2 of our Constitution, the Freedom to Express and Disseminate Thought guaranteed in Article 26, the explicit provision in Article 28 that 'The press is free and shall not be censored,' and the Freedom of Expression regulated in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

As clearly emphasized in the precedent decisions of the Constitutional Court; 'Blocking access to an entire media outlet or platform by citing restrictive content is a violation of the principle of proportionality and hinders the right of the entire society to be informed.'

"WHOLESALE SHUTDOWN DECISIONS VICTIMIZE ALL CITIZENS"

Constitutional Court jurisprudence has clearly demonstrated that wholesale shutdown decisions directly victimize not only the publisher but all citizens whose access to information is blocked. Despite these clear decisions by the Constitutional Court, the judiciary's wholesale shutdown of T24 completely eliminates constitutional guarantees.

Freedom of expression applies not only to thoughts that are pleasing or seen as harmless, but also to news and ideas that disturb or criticize the state or a segment of society. Where there is no pluralism, tolerance, and open-mindedness, one cannot speak of a democratic society.

"DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE SPOKEN OF WITHOUT A FREE PRESS"

This unlawful shutdown and access block decision against T24 must be lifted immediately, and the right of press workers to work must be guaranteed. It must not be forgotten that; without a free press, there can be no talk of democracy, accountability, or the public's right to learn the truth.

As the Journalists Association of Turkey, we respectfully announce to the public that we stand with T24 employees and all our colleagues, and that we will continue to resolutely defend the public's right to be informed and freedom of the press. Journalism is not a crime."

News Source: 12punto