'Can no longer breathe': Thousands protest in Turkey over media crackdown
Thousands of protesters gathered in Istanbul and Ankara to demonstrate against the Turkish government's crackdown on independent media, including the arrest of journalists and the closure of news outlets. Activists and journalists demanded greater press freedom and the release of imprisoned media professionals.
Why it matters
The protests reflect growing international concern over the erosion of democratic norms and freedom of the press in Turkey.
NEW DELHI: Thousands of people took to the streets in Istanbul and Ankara on Saturday to protest what journalists and rights groups described as growing government pressure on independent media, including arrests, censorship and the takeover of news outlets.Police estimated that around 3,000 people attended the demonstration in Ankara. Journalists, rights activists and opposition representatives joined the protests, chanting slogans such as “Enough!” and “We can no longer breathe!” and demanding press freedom and the release of jailed journalists, as reported by AFP.In Istanbul, demonstrators displayed photographs of imprisoned journalists and shouted, “We will not be silenced. Enough is enough!” and “We will not bow to pressure”.The protests come amid growing concerns over restrictions on independent journalism in Turkey.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in