Nedim Türfent, a journalist and a poet who focuses on human-rights abuses Kurdish people face in Türkiye, is being charged for ‘disseminating propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation’ due to his activity on social media. This article (Anti-Terror Law Article 7) has been previously used for individuals such as Yavuz Ekinci, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, Ahmet Nesin and more that have used their platforms to express free speech that is oppositional to the current ruling party. This way, Turkish government continues to target journalists, writers, civil society members that speak up against injustices happening in Türkiye.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Nedim Türfent’s journalism has been ‘ declared a crime’. He was arrested for 6 years and 7 months between May 2016 and November 2022, while he reported Türkiye’s military operations from 2015 in the Southeast region that has violated many human rights laws, including sieges, mass arrests and displacement, curfews, tortures, removal of democratically elected officials and more. While he won international awards for his brave journalism, he has been threatened, tortured, arrested in Türkiye. During his trial, his right to a fair trial has been violated, as 19 out of 20 witnesses recanted their testimonies which was given under torture. European Court of Human Rights appealed to Türkiye’s decision, due to violation of the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression.
As of June 2025, a new arrest warrant issued for him by Türkiye. While Türfent currently lives in exile in Germany, his visa is due to expire in August 2025. This situation may increase the effects of Türkiye’s anti-opposition oppression, and may put Turfent at risk of being extradited to Türkiye.
There is a clear pattern to Türkiye’s targeting of individuals that speak up against injustices happening in Türkiye, which is reinforced by second unjust targeting of Nedim Türfent. We, as Rights Defenders, condemn the arrest warrant issued by Türkiye and ask for immediate drop of these charges, which violate the freedom of speech and ignore the role of journalism that requires high levels of courage.
https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/in-conversation-with-kurdish-poet-nedim-turfent/
