In the two decades that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been in power, press freedom has eroded in Turkey. Under his rule, Turkey has become a top jailer of journalists, and government censorship is on the rise. Voice of America’s new documentary, “Turkey: Breaking the Silence,” profiles citizens, journalists, and activists whose stories help explain the forces driving media repression. The film reveals how deep divisions in Turkish society and politics, combined with autocratic power, have evolved to repress critical news coverage and stifle free speech.

Freedom House invites you to a virtual screening of the 40-minute film on Friday, February 26 at 12 PM ET. Following the film, Nate Schenkkan, director for special research at Freedom House, will lead a discussion on the Turkish press environment with VOA Executive Producer Beth Mendelson. Working from Washington, D.C., Beth directed a team on the ground in Turkey that reported from Istanbul and the countryside.

Full panel:

Beth Mendelson, VOA Executive Producer, “Turkey: Breaking the Silence”

Nate Schenkkan, Director for Special Research, Freedom House

Ece Temelkuran, Author/Journalist; former columnist, Milliyet and Haberturk

Emma Sinclair Webb, Turkey Director, Human Rights Watch

Baris Altintas, Media and Legal Studies Association

Watch the trailer for "Turkey: Breaking the Silence" here.