<p>Turkish investigative journalist Baris Pehlivan has found himself behind bars for the fifth time in just three years, further igniting concerns about press freedom in the country. The recent directive to return to prison, delivered via a text message on August 2,&nbsp;compelled Pehlivan to surrender by August 15th at the Silivri penitentiary on the outskirts of Istanbul, a facility often associated with government critics.</p>

<p>Pehlivan's most recent work, "SS," implicates former interior minister Suleyman Soylu in connections to organised crime. Despite the gravity of his situation, his lawyer, Huseyin Ersoz, shared a glimmer of hope, mentioning the possibility of parole. Ersoz explained that a decision regarding his release could materialise at any moment.</p>

<h2><strong>A storied history of incarceration</strong></h2>

<p>Having previously served four imprisonments, Pehlivan's journalistic endeavours have repeatedly landed him behind bars. While two of these instances resulted in only a single day of confinement – once in February and once in May – his commitment to exposing truth has consistently brought him into conflict with Turkish authorities.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-very-rare-mole-living-for-three-million-years-in-mountains-of-turkey-624878">Scientists discover 'very rare' mole living in mountains of Turkey for three million years</a></p>

<h2><strong>Charges and convictions</strong></h2>

<p>Pehlivan and six fellow journalists faced a three-year and nine-month prison sentence in 2020 for their coverage of the funeral of a Turkish MIT secret services operative operating in Libya. The journalists were charged with revealing "state secrets," although the veracity of the operative's death had never been contested by Turkish officials.</p>

<p>Pehlivan's current imprisonment arises from an eight-month term related to violating the nation's intelligence laws.</p>

<p>"I stand as a testament to the struggle for truth and justice," Pehlivan asserted before entering prison. Recognising the broader implications of his incarceration, he stated, "My story is just a fragment of the larger narrative, the enduring fight for integrity."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Wildfires scorch Syria and Turkey, huge losses for Tourism, agriculture</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wildfires-scorch-syria-and-turkey-huge-losses-for-tourism-agriculture-620351/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>International condemnation and advocacy</strong></h2>

<p>Advocates for press freedom worldwide have united in condemning the "judicial harassment" faced by Pehlivan. Calls for the Turkish government to uphold media freedom have grown louder. Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders emphasised Pehlivan's plight, highlighting that he is the thirteenth journalist to be incarcerated in the current year. Onderoglu labelled the arrest as a "retrogressive attack on public discourse."</p>

<h2><strong>Diminished press freedom and global ranking</strong></h2>

<p>Turkey's press freedom continues to face scrutiny, with the nation ranking 165th out of 180 countries in the latest press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders. The recurring imprisonment of journalists like Pehlivan further emphasises the critical need for safeguarding freedom of the press and protecting those who pursue the truth, even in the face of adversity.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Turkish investigative journalist Baris Pehlivan has found himself behind bars for the fifth time in just three years, further igniting concerns about press freedom in the country.

Turkish investigative journalist Baris Pehlivan has found himself behind bars for the fifth time in just three years, further igniting concerns about press freedom in the country. The recent directive to return to prison, delivered via a text message on August 2, compelled Pehlivan to surrender by August 15th at the Silivri penitentiary on the outskirts of Istanbul, a facility often associated with government critics. Pehlivan's most recent work, "SS," implicates former interior minister Suleyman Soylu in connections to organised crime. Despite the gravity of his situation, his lawyer, Huseyin Ersoz, shared a glimmer of hope, mentioning the possibility of parole. Ersoz explained that a decision regarding his release could materialise at any moment. A storied history of incarceration Having previously served four imprisonments, Pehlivan's journalistic endeavours have repeatedly landed him behind bars. While two of these instances resulted in only a single day of confinement – once in February and once in May – his commitment to exposing truth has consistently brought him into conflict with Turkish authorities. Also read | Scientists discover 'very rare' mole living in mountains of Turkey for three million years Charges and convictions Pehlivan and six fellow journalists faced a three-year and nine-month prison sentence in 2020 for their coverage of the funeral of a Turkish MIT secret services operative operating in Libya. The journalists were charged with revealing "state secrets," although the veracity of the operative's death had never been contested by Turkish officials. Pehlivan's current imprisonment arises from an eight-month term related to violating the nation's intelligence laws. "I stand as a testament to the struggle for truth and justice," Pehlivan asserted before entering prison. Recognising the broader implications of his incarceration, he stated, "My story is just a fragment of the larger narrative, the enduring fight for integrity." Also watch | Wildfires scorch Syria and Turkey, huge losses for Tourism, agriculture International condemnation and advocacy Advocates for press freedom worldwide have united in condemning the "judicial harassment" faced by Pehlivan. Calls for the Turkish government to uphold media freedom have grown louder. Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders emphasised Pehlivan's plight, highlighting that he is the thirteenth journalist to be incarcerated in the current year. Onderoglu labelled the arrest as a "retrogressive attack on public discourse." Diminished press freedom and global ranking Turkey's press freedom continues to face scrutiny, with the nation ranking 165th out of 180 countries in the latest press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders. The recurring imprisonment of journalists like Pehlivan further emphasises the critical need for safeguarding freedom of the press and protecting those who pursue the truth, even in the face of adversity. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Press freedom in question: Turkish investigative journalist jailed for fifth time in three years

<p class="MsoNormal">As the Russian&nbsp;independent editor Dmitry Muratov&nbsp;was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize 2021, Russia’s authorities labelled few journalists and publications as 'foreign agents'.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">A few hours after the world celebrated Russia’s investigative journalist, the Russian authorities labelled an investigative news outlet, Bellingcat, as a ‘foreign agent’. Along with the media firm, nine other journalists and two other media houses were also treated the same way.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">This action by the Russian authorities is being understood as a trial of hampering the work carried out by these journalists and media houses, which is also a lot of times against the ruling government.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-journalists-maria-ressa-and-dmitry-muratov-419104">Nobel Peace Prize awarded to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov</a></strong></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">However, the Kremlin has denied these allegations, but has maintained that three companies and nine journalists are acting as foreign agents.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">The decision by Kremlin was not supported by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who tweeted, "we will try to help people who have been designated as [foreign] agents, who are being hounded and forced out of Russia."<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Bellingcat is known for revealing Russia agents who had been accused of carrying out the Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">The news did not come as a shock for the investigative journalism firm.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">"What took you so long?" tweeted Christo Grozev, an investigator for Bellingcat.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">"Bellingcat has been deemed such a threat to Russia that we've been declared a foreign agent," said Eliot Higgins, Bellingcat’s founder. “I guess this is the Russian Nobel prize?”<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, US-registered MNews.world and the Caucasus Knot website have also been included in this list of 'foreign agents'.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Any individual or company that has been labelled as a 'foreign agent' by the Russian government is supposed to register with the authorities and report all activities and finances every six months. In addition to this, all their exchanges, including text messages, are to come with a disclaimer that reads that the concerned person is a foreign agent.<o:p></o:p></p>


As the Russian independent editor Dmitry Muratov was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize 2021, Russia’s authorities labelled few journalists and publications as 'foreign agents'.

As the Russian independent editor Dmitry Muratov was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize 2021, Russia’s authorities labelled few journalists and publications as 'foreign agents'. A few hours after the world celebrated Russia’s investigative journalist, the Russian authorities labelled an investigative news outlet, Bellingcat, as a ‘foreign agent’. Along with the media firm, nine other journalists and two other media houses were also treated the same way. This action by the Russian authorities is being understood as a trial of hampering the work carried out by these journalists and media houses, which is also a lot of times against the ruling government. Also read | Nobel Peace Prize awarded to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov However, the Kremlin has denied these allegations, but has maintained that three companies and nine journalists are acting as foreign agents. The decision by Kremlin was not supported by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who tweeted, "we will try to help people who have been designated as [foreign] agents, who are being hounded and forced out of Russia." Bellingcat is known for revealing Russia agents who had been accused of carrying out the Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018. The news did not come as a shock for the investigative journalism firm. "What took you so long?" tweeted Christo Grozev, an investigator for Bellingcat. "Bellingcat has been deemed such a threat to Russia that we've been declared a foreign agent," said Eliot Higgins, Bellingcat’s founder. “I guess this is the Russian Nobel prize?” Meanwhile, US-registered MNews.world and the Caucasus Knot website have also been included in this list of 'foreign agents'. Any individual or company that has been labelled as a 'foreign agent' by the Russian government is supposed to register with the authorities and report all activities and finances every six months. In addition to this, all their exchanges, including text messages, are to come with a disclaimer that reads that the concerned person is a foreign agent.

'Russian Nobel Prize?': Russia labels Bellingcat and other journalists as 'foreign agents'

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