Turkey’s crackdown on opposition signals ongoing democratic erosion

Spotlight’s latest episode features a conversation between host François Picard and Barış Altıntaş, co‑founder and co‑director of the Media and Law Studies Association. Altıntaş, who coordinates pro‑bono legal assistance for writers and journalists across Turkey, shares insights into the current climate for press freedom in the country.

In the interview, Altıntaş cautions that the recent wave of arrests, prosecutions and restrictions on media outlets is not an isolated reaction to a single political event. Instead, he argues, it represents a long‑standing, adaptive pattern of institutional pressure that has steadily eroded democratic norms in Turkey. According to Altıntaş, different segments of society are targeted over time as political priorities shift, revealing a systemic trend rather than a temporary crackdown.

The discussion underscores the importance of sustained legal support for journalists and highlights the broader context of democratic backsliding in Turkey. Altıntaş’s perspective offers a framework for understanding how legal and institutional mechanisms can be used to suppress dissent over extended periods, a concern that remains central to the country’s media landscape.