Wed Nov 26 18:10:12 UTC 2025: Summary:

Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison for comments made about President Erdogan in a social media video. The comments, referencing Ottoman history, alluded to Turks removing leaders they no longer wanted. This conviction is part of a larger crackdown on opposition figures in Turkey and has been condemned by the journalist’s lawyer and civil society groups as a violation of freedom of expression and an intimidation tactic against the press.

News Article:

Turkish Journalist Jailed for Comments on President Erdogan

ANKARA, TURKEY – November 26, 2025 – Fatih Altayli, a prominent Turkish journalist, was sentenced to four years and two months in prison today for “threatening the president,” according to state broadcaster TRT. The sentence stems from comments he made in a social media video referencing Ottoman history, where he implied that Turks had historically removed rulers they no longer supported.

Altayli, who has over 1.5 million YouTube subscribers, was initially jailed pending trial in June following the video’s release. His comments were made in relation to a poll showing significant opposition to President Erdogan remaining in power indefinitely.

The conviction is the latest in a series of actions against opposition figures in Turkey, including the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu earlier this year.

Altayli’s lawyer, Erinc Sagkan, denounced the ruling as “unlawful” and a violation of fundamental freedoms, vowing to appeal. He further stated that the ruling serves as “an intimidation against the entire press” and a tool to suppress dissenting voices.

Civil society groups have long raised concerns about the state of media freedom in Turkey. Reporters Without Borders ranked Turkey 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. The jailing of Altayli is likely to further exacerbate these concerns.

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