Turkish journalist Timur Soykan was detained in Istanbul on July 5 and taken to the Vatan Police Department, according to fellow journalist Şule Aydın.
Soykan’s arrest comes after he shared a series of social media posts critical of the Turkish government’s recent operations targeting the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). Prosecutors claim the journalist is being held on accusations of “spreading misleading information to the public.”
The arrest has raised fresh concerns about press freedom in Turkey. Soykan, known for his investigative reporting and outspoken criticism of state policies, is the latest in a growing list of journalists facing legal pressure for challenging official narratives online.
Rights groups say the government is increasingly using vague laws to suppress dissent, with critics calling Soykan’s detention politically motivated. The incident also follows a string of arrests involving opposition politicians and journalists, fueling fears of an intensifying crackdown ahead of potential political shifts.
Press freedom advocates have condemned the move and are demanding Soykan’s immediate release, calling it part of a broader campaign to silence independent media voices in Turkey.
