Sarya Deniz

News Center _ Although May 3, World Press Freedom Day, was declared by the United Nations to protect freedom of expression and access to information as a universal value, this principle is today experiencing serious erosion worldwide, especially in Turkey.

Journalists are imprisoned in Turkey, other are killed in “Operations” across borders, and are threatened. Journalists are bombed in Gaza, raped in Sudan, and face the death penalty in Iran- these are all realities of this world.

Press freedom in global crisis

The 2026 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), summarizes this grim picture on World Press Freedom Day. The 2026 data shows that press freedom is experiencing a growing decline worldwide. While the lowest levels in the last 25 years are being recorded, journalism in most countries has become a field squeezed by economic, legal, and political pressures. More than half of the world's 180 countries fall into the "difficult" or "very dangerous" categories, indicating that the decline in press freedom has turned into a global structural crisis.

Strict restrictions are increasing

Looking at this picture, examples from different regions of the world make the dimensions of the crisis clearer. While Northern European countries maintain relatively high rankings and show stability in protecting press freedom, countries such as Eritrea, North Korea, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia languish at the bottom, representing regions with the most severe restrictions.

In the Americas, the decline in the United States' ranking in recent years draws attention, alongside increasing cases of pressure and violence against journalists. It appears that press freedom is not only declining in specific regions but is systematically shrinking globally due to economic dependency, legal restrictions, and security policies.

Conflict zones and targeted journalism

As conflict zones spread around the world, it is clear that journalists are among the first targets, despite the "immunity" they supposedly enjoy. Events, especially in Gaza under Israeli attacks, along with the silence of international institutions, reveal how journalists are left without protection or guarantees despite the existence of international agreements.

The situation in Gaza, under the war waged by Israeli forces, is described as the deadliest for journalists worldwide. According to data, at least 260 journalists have been killed since the attacks began in October 2023, and journalists remain vulnerable to targeting at any moment.

According to press freedom organizations, the killing of journalists in Gaza and Lebanon is not random but part of a broader attack on press freedom.

The latest of these crimes was the killing of journalist Amal Khalil, who died in an attack by Israeli forces in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire – another example of the targeting of journalists.

Media blackout in Sudan

Sudan is one of the countries experiencing a deep humanitarian crisis. In this country that has witnessed conflict for years, inhumane conditions in various fields are highlighted, particularly cases of kidnapping, threats, arrest, and sexual assault against women. Sudan is also experiencing a widespread media blackout. Although it faces one of the world's largest displacement crises, along with major humanitarian tragedies due to ongoing conflicts, it does not receive sufficient attention in the international media.

According to data, 32 journalists have been killed in Sudan, 556 violations against media workers have been documented, and many newspapers and radio stations have been closed. Sudan is classified as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. Internet and communication outages restrict the flow of news. The situation in Sudan is seen as part of the global decline in press freedom.

Journalism under protests and war... Iran

Iran is also among the countries experiencing a sharp decline in press freedom. The targeting of media centers during the war between Israel and Iran has shown that attacks are not limited to military targets but extend to the media as well. Attacks on journalists have also escalated with the Jin Jiyan Azadî uprising.

Journalists have been arrested and attempts have been made to silence them through the threat of the death penalty. With the January protests and the subsequent Israeli attacks, a wide media blackout was imposed due to internet cuts. The imprisoned Kurdish journalist Bakhshan Azizi is an example of what journalists face in the country; she remains under threat of execution and is held in conditions amounting to torture inside prison.

Turkey and escalating pressures on media

Turkey's situation is described as among the lowest levels of press freedom. Its fall to 163rd place out of 180 countries is one of the clearest indicators of this reality. This decline does not merely reflect a drop in ranking but also reveals a structural constriction of the media field.

Economic pressures, legal legislation, and the tendency to criminalize journalistic work are among the most prominent factors weakening media pluralism in Turkey. The influence of political and institutional mechanisms on media is also clearly visible, making the media landscape more subject to restrictions.

31 journalists in detention

Assessments regarding the country indicate that "critical voices are suppressed through multiple means," and pluralism in the media field becomes more fragile day by day. In this context, Turkey is no longer just a passive victim of global decline but has become one of the central countries where the press freedom crisis intensifies. Its press freedom ranking places it between Iraq, which is ahead of it, and Yemen, which comes after it.

According to reports from the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG) and the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), 5 journalists were detained in March alone, while 2 journalists were arrested. According to data from these associations, the number of journalists currently imprisoned in Turkey is 31.

Escalating pressures

It is noted that Turkey is experiencing alarming developments regarding press and expression freedom. While steps toward democracy are expected, opposite policies are being implemented, and pressures increase. This situation reflects that press freedom in the country is under clear structural pressure.

The effects of legal legislation, especially what is known in public opinion as the "disinformation law," are becoming increasingly evident on journalistic work, as the vagueness of the charge of "publicly spreading misleading information" creates a deterrent effect on journalistic practices. Journalists' ability to follow events on the ground is also systematically obstructed, while access restrictions and digital censorship are among the most used methods. Despite this scene, workers in free journalism continue to write the truth without retreat.