SUSMA24 – Strengthening the Speak Up Network

Freedom of expression violations in the fields of art, culture and media have been on the rise in Turkey, systematically shrinking the space for artistic expression and paving the way for widespread censorship and self-censorship. The number of mechanisms and actors engaged in censorship have proliferated over the recent years, especially since the declaration of a state of emergency in the country in 2016. The increase in discretionary powers afforded to local governors, growing controls on access to the internet, greater pressure on social media users, bureaucratic obstacles against cultural institutions and an escalating resort to criminal prosecutions have made it increasingly difficult for artists and cultural professionals to exercise their right to free expression.

In this project, Punto24 Bağımsız Gazetecilik Derneği (P24) seeks to defend and promote artistic freedom of expression through documenting violations for a national and international audience; raising awareness at public and decision-makers levels; fostering dialogue among artists, cultural professionals, legal experts and local authorities as a way to build resilience against violations at community level; and providing alternative space for censored work.

Postkodstiftelsen supports the project with SEK 2 000 000.