Dilruba Kayserilioğlu, a resident of Turkey’s western Aegean city of İzmir, was arrested on August 12th after making comments in a street interview deemed as ‘disinformation, intended to manipulate public opinion’ by Turkey’s radio and television authority (RTÜK). Kayserilioğlu was released on August 29th following two-and-a-half weeks of incarceration.
Kayserilioğlu’s detention was heavily criticized by members of Turkey’s opposition. On her last day in jail, Kayserilioğlu was visited by Özgür Özel, chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Turkey’s main opposition leader.
The following day, on August 30th, Kayserilioğlu joined Özel at the opening of an international fair in İzmir.
At the fair, Özel made a speech referencing his party’s commitment to freedom of speech in Turkey.
Kayserilioğlu’s original comments that led to her two-and-a-half week detention had targeted a ban on Instagram that was instituted in Turkey at the beginning of August. The platform was reopened on August 10th following an eight-day ban.
Broadcast regulator RTÜK announces crackdown on street interviews
In a statement released today (September 2), RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin announced that new restrictions were coming to broadcasters conducting street interviews in Turkey:
“New regulations are on the way for street interviews. Everyone must be careful. We will no longer tolerate slanderous or false information. Those who broadcast news or programs on YouTube will also be required to get a license from RTÜK.”
By Leo Kendrick
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