Fatih Altayli, one of Turkey’s most respected journalists and columnists, has recently gained attention in the media environment even from prison. Detained from his house on June 21, he is accused of making threats against the president. With 63 years of age, Altayli’s career is multi-faceted, especially known for his works as a columnist and television presenter. Now being held in the high-security Silivri prison — renamed the Marmara Prison Campus, according to the Turkish government — he’s turned his cell into a re-purposed newsroom. He’s taken up a daring new practice known as “prison journalism.”
Now, Altayli is one of 17 journalists and media sector workers who have been imprisoned in Turkey. His recent work is a testament to the artist’s undying commitment to his craft, an unyielding sense of purpose that hasn’t wavered despite hardships. While most would falter under such circumstances, Altayli has chosen to enhance his journalistic efforts from within the confines of prison.
On Friday, his trial will get its first hearing of the new court year. It’s this event that has galvanized supporters locally and attracted the focus of international observers increasingly concerned about the state of press freedom in Turkey. From a policy perspective, the implications of this trial could change the nature of journalism in our country. It comes at a moment when other journalists are facing the same threats.
Back home in Silivri, Altayli’s work is kept alive in no small part by his assistant Emre Acar. Acar invites guest commentators to respond to Altayli’s letters, giving him further reach and letting his ideas echo far beyond these prison walls. This kind of initiative is typical Altayli, the kind of avant-garde outlook that has marked her work in journalism.
To fellow journalist and Altayli supporter Murat Yetkin, Altayli’s fighting spirit stands out. He stated, “Fatih Altayli has launched a new form of journalism: prison journalism.” Yetkin further noted, “Fatih didn’t bow. I won’t say he’s maintained his line; he’s elevated it. In my view, he’s standing firmer than before.”
Altayli’s posts for perhizgah, a recently-established alternative news website, are certainly making waves. Along the way, they give a fierce critique of Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian political landscape. His dedication to truth-telling from inside the prison proves his tremendous bravery. It also uncovers the alarming condition of press freedom in the country.
Likewise, Altayli’s individual struggle reveals a far broader crisis across Turkey. Scores more are threatened and languishing in jails, unable to do their work. His case sheds light on the challenges that media professionals face on the ground. They’re spreading the truth after being a target of government censorship.
The statement concluded, “As Altayli’s trial date approaches, all eyes will be on him. His own commitment to journalistic integrity in the face of imprisonment is an inspiration, and it gives us great hope. It serves to remind us of the vital role a free press plays in our society.
“Look at the history of this nation. This is a nation which strangled its sultan when they didn’t like him or want him. There are quite a few Ottoman sultans who were assassinated, strangled, or whose deaths were made to look like suicide.” – Fatih Altayli
