Journalists Timur Soykan and Murat Ağırel have been detained.

Turkey ranks 158th among 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index.

Journalists Murat Ağırel and Timur Soykan were detained early Thursday morning. The development was announced by their colleague Şule Aydın from Onlar TV, which broadcasts on YouTube. Aydın stated, "Murat and Timur are being detained. A search is currently being conducted at their homes," and added, "Enough." Soykan and Ağırel have covered numerous stories on issues such as corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking, and press freedom throughout their journalism careers. Ağırel had previously been imprisoned. In 2020, he mentioned communities and sects operating in Turkey in his book titled "Sarmal," and was released about six months later. Both have published many investigative journalism books. The detention of the two journalists occurred during a period when discussions about press freedom in Turkey were intensifying. Following the arrest and imprisonment of the Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, many journalists who were covering protests as part of their work had been detained. Turkey ranks 158th among 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).