A coalition of press freedom organizations in Turkey has strongly condemned the detention of İhlas News Agency (İHA) reporter Sebahattin Yum and his colleague Ercan Tunç following a news report about a public ceremony in the eastern province of Iğdır. The incident has drawn widespread criticism as a violation of press freedom.
Yum was taken into custody after publishing a report titled “Governor gets umbrella, veterans don’t”, which criticized the perceived preferential treatment of Iğdır Governor Ercan Turan during a public event. The article highlighted that while the governor was shielded from the rain with an umbrella, no such consideration was shown to war veterans attending the same ceremony. The report was based entirely on a public event.
His detention, prompted by a complaint filed by the governor, was described by press groups as “deeply alarming and unacceptable from the standpoint of press freedom.”
The situation escalated when Ercan Tunç—also an İHA reporter and the head of the Iğdır Working Journalists Association—was arrested after filming Yum’s release from the police station. Although Yum was briefly released, he was soon taken into custody again by gendarmerie officers, according to press associations.
In a statement, the Iğdır Governor’s Office defended the legal actions, stating that the news report was “false, misleading, and aimed at targeting public institutions.” The statement said that the investigation was initiated under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes “openly disseminating misleading information to the public,” and was conducted under the instructions of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities argued that the process was carried out within the boundaries of legal procedures.
Press freedom organizations, however, emphasized that reporting on developments at public events is a fundamental right protected by Article 28 of the Turkish Constitution, which guarantees press freedom.
“The report by Sebahattin Yum is clearly in the public interest and cannot under any circumstances be criminalized,” the joint statement read. “Targeting a journalist for a news report is a blatant attempt to intimidate the press and restrict freedom of expression.”
The statement also warned against the use of judicial mechanisms as a tool of pressure by public officials such as governors and district governors, stating that such actions are incompatible with democratic norms. “Journalists are accountable not to those in power, but to the public’s right to know.”
The undersigned organizations condemned the “unlawful detention process” of journalists Yum and Tunç “in the strongest possible terms,” expressing full solidarity with the two reporters.
They called on public officials to immediately cease all acts of intimidation, pressure, and harassment against journalists and reminded judicial authorities that launching investigations against journalists solely over their reporting is a direct violation of press freedom.
“Press freedom is the cornerstone of a democratic society,” the statement concluded. “Journalists are not criminals; they are the ones who pursue truth on behalf of the public. No threat or pressure will silence their determination to report the truth.”
