Türkiye local elections: What’s next for expression and press freedom?

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Türkiye local elections: What’s next for expression and press freedom?

On 31 March, people across Türkiye voted in local elections, resulting in sweeping wins for the Republican People's Party (CHP) – including in Ankara (the capital) and Istanbul (the country’s biggest city).

The results of the elections were surprising: although President Erdoğan remains in office, the CHP is celebrating huge wins over his AK Party (AKP), and will now run 36 of the country’s 81 provinces. This was the worst loss for the AKP in 2 decades, and sent a clear message that reverberated around the world:

The people want change.

Ahead of the elections, ARTICLE 19, Human Rights Watch, and 20 partner rights groups and journalists’ organisations presented the government and social media platforms with a list of recommendations, and we were hopeful that, to a degree, they were being considered.

Yet the run-up to the elections was plagued with disinformation, online censorship, and a clear bias against opposition parties in the mainstream media. None of this took place in a vacuum: it was the latest manifestation of years of restrictions, suppression, and censorship. In February 2023, for example, the authorities’ throttling of the internet prevented people caught up in the devastating earthquakes from accessing vital information, including about emergency services, or finding out if their loved ones were safe. Shortly before the 2023 election, Turkish authorities threatened to censor online platforms that failed to comply with their demands to remove content. Looking further back, the government also introduced internet restrictions in 2020 and 2022.

While these problems are clear barriers to people’s enjoyment of free expression in Türkiye, observers also praised these elections’ competitive nature and high voter turnout – in stark contrast to what we have seen elsewhere this Super Election Year. In Senegal, for example, the President unconstitutionally postponed the elections for 10 months and the authorities brutally quashed the protests that subsequently erupted. A new date was eventually set, but the President’s irresponsible actions, the violence, and the undermining of democracy continue to resonate. Meanwhile, in Russia’s sham presidential elections, all the relevant opposition figures were either jailed, in exile, or denied registration.

Following their surprise victory, the CHP is now preparing to help shape a new political landscape: voters have expressed hope that the leader will usher in unity and tackle polarisation, and local politicians promised a change in the political climate during their election campaigns. At this crucial moment, ARTICLE 19 urges the party to do all it can locally to address the rising censorship that Erdoğan and his AKP have presided over.

ARTICLE 19 has documented in depth the judicial harassment of numerous journalists, including the recent case against Furkan Karabay, charged with terrorism offences, and cases against Istanbul journalists Ayça Söylemez, Can Ataklı, Görkem Kınacı, and Kürşat Yılmaz. We have repeatedly highlighted the authorities’ increasing targeting of journalists with laws that violate international standards on freedom of expression.

We urge the CHP to speak out about these cases and call for charges to be dropped, for those imprisoned to be released, and for an end to the judicial harassment of journalists, in line with the government’s commitment to international standards on freedom of expression.

In addition, we urge the CHP to use this opportunity to compel President Erdoğan to protect freedom of expression online. This means making bold decisions, including:

Reviewing and reforming internet legislation to ensure it complies with international human rights law.

Promoting freedom of expression online and enabling social media companies to host diverse opinions and voices on their platforms, especially opinions of a political nature, in line with the human rights obligations that both governments and companies must honour. Legal and extra-legal means should never be used to pressure platforms to censor content.

Being transparent when engaging with social media companies, and with the public, when requesting content to be removed.

Committing to principles of legality, legitimacy, necessity, and proportionality when considering any actions against online platforms.

Keeping people online and connected at all times, and supporting their right to access information.

While President Erdoğan still commands overall power, his stinging defeat in these local elections may signal a fresh opportunity to halt the crackdown on free expression online and to allow accurate information to circulate freely.

The people of Türkiye have spoken.

It’s time for their leaders to listen.

Raise your voice to support freedom of expression in Türkiye. Share our recommendations for the government and all political parties to protect free expression online.

Raise your voice today

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