A coalition of international press freedom and freedom of expression organizations has strongly condemned the detention of BirGün newspaper reporter İsmail Arı, calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

Arı was detained on 21 March in Turhal district, Tokat province, where he had travelled to visit family during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. He was subsequently transferred to Ankara, where the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office charged him with "publicly disseminating misleading information" and "insulting a public official" under the Turkish Penal Code. In an unusual procedural move, prosecutors referred Arı directly to a criminal judgeship requesting his arrest — without first taking his statement.

A veteran of BirGün's Ankara bureau, Arı is widely recognized for his investigative reporting on corruption in public institutions. His work has earned him awards from the Istanbul Medical Association, the Ankara Medical Association, and the Turkish Journalists Association. During police questioning, officers asked him specifically about his previously published news stories and social media posts — a detail that press freedom advocates say reveals the political nature of the case.

Rights organizations argue that the investigation file, built entirely around Arı's journalistic output — including published reports, social media activity, and attendance at public events - effectively criminalizes routine journalism. "Covering stories, speaking with sources, and investigating matters of public interest are not criminal acts," the coalition stated.

The groups warn that Arı's arrest is not an isolated incident but part of a broader and systematic effort to criminalize journalism in Türky. They stress that such actions harm not only individual journalists but also the public's fundamental right to access information, and call on Turkish authorities to cease using criminal legislation as a tool to silence the press.