{"id":61701,"date":"2026-04-15T19:13:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/61701\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T19:13:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:13:11","slug":"turkish-court-sentences-veteran-journalist-to-prison-over-social-media-posts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/61701\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkish court sentences veteran journalist to prison over social media posts"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A Turkish court on Tuesday sentenced<\/a> veteran journalist Zafer Arapkirli to more than two years in prison for allegedly spreading disinformation in social media posts criticizing attacks on Syria\u2019s Alawite minority, the ANKA news agency reported.<\/p>\n

The \u0130stanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance refused to suspend his sentence but released him pending appeal. The court acquitted Arapkirli of a separate charge of incitement to hatred and hostility.<\/p>\n

The case stems from Arapkirli\u2019s March 2025 posts on X criticizing attacks on Nusayris, a sect of Alawites, in Syria\u2019s Latakia and Tartus provinces.<\/p>\n

BU ADAMLAR NEREYE G\u0130D\u0130YOR?<\/p>\n

a) Lazkiye, Tartus\u2019a Nusayri \u00f6ld\u00fcrmeye
b) \u00c7orum\u2019a Alevi \u00f6ld\u00fcrmeye
c) Kahramanmara\u015f\u2019a Alevi \u00f6ld\u00fcrmeye
d) Sivas Mad\u0131mak Otele Alevi yakmaya
e) Hepsi pic.twitter.com\/sQ7y4futAb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Zafer Arapkirli (@ZaferArapkirli) March 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

In his defense Arapkirli said he was being repeatedly prosecuted over his journalism on accusations such as insulting the president, inciting hatred or spreading disinformation. He accused the government of waging a campaign of judicial harassment to silence critics.<\/p>\n

Arapkirli had previously been convicted<\/a> in 2024 for insulting former interior minister S\u00fcleyman Soylu and current gendarmerie general commander Arif \u00c7etin in social media posts, though he was also acquitted in March in a separate case<\/a> accusing him of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan.<\/p>\n

Journalists in Turkey critical of the government or allied political parties have faced increasing scrutiny under laws criminalizing \u201cdisinformation,\u201d \u201cinsulting public officials\u201d and \u201cdisseminating terrorist propaganda.\u201d Dozens of reporters remain in prison, and many more are the subjects of ongoing investigations.<\/p>\n

According to Expression Interrupted, a press freedom monitoring group, 28 journalists\u00a0are<\/a>\u00a0currently behind bars in Turkey. The country\u2019s deteriorating media landscape was further pointed out in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where it was\u00a0ranked<\/a>\u00a0159th out of 180 nations.<\/p>\n