Censorship in Turkey is regulated by domestic and international legislation, the latter in theory taking precedence over domestic law, according to Article 90 of the Constitution of Turkey so amended in Despite legal provisions, freedom of the press in Turkey has steadily deteriorated from onwards, with a precipitous decline following the attempted coup in July By some accounts, Turkey currently accounts for one-third of all journalists imprisoned around the world.
The government enacted new laws that expanded both the state's power to block websites and the surveillance capability of the National Intelligence Organization MΔ°T. Journalists faced unprecedented legal obstacles as the courts restricted reporting on corruption and national security issues. The authorities also continued to aggressively use the penal code, criminal defamation laws, and the antiterrorism law to crack down on journalists and media outlets. Meanwhile, the government continued to use the financial and other leverage it holds over media owners to influence coverage of politically sensitive issues.
Several dozen journalists, including prominent columnists, lost their jobs as a result of such pressure during the year, and those who remained had to operate in a climate of increasing self-censorship and media polarization. In and the Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ ranked Turkey as the worst journalist jailer in the world ahead of Iran and China , with 49 journalists sitting in jail in and 40 in During its rule since the ruling AKP has gradually expanded its control over media.
The AKP leadership has been criticized by multiple journalists over the years because of censorship. Regional censorship predates the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. On 15 February , the Ottoman Empire issued law governing printing houses " Basmahane Nizamnamesi " ; books first had to be shown to the governor, who forwarded them to commission for education " Maarif Meclisi " and the police.
If no objection was made, the Sultan would then inspect them. Without censure from the Sultan books could not be legally issued. Following the abolition of the Caliphate in , the Sheikh Said rebellion broke out as part of the complex ethnic conflict that erupted with the creation of a secular Turkish nationalist identity that was rejected by Kurds, who had long been loyal subjects of the Caliph.
