The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Ottoman Empire bars lawmakers and officials from editing newspapers and jails a leading editor

TürkiyeRSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

In March 1913 the Ottoman government amended its 1909 press law, barring members of parliament and state officials from serving as newspaper editors and applying the ban retroactively to every periodical already in print. The revision followed the martial court prosecution of Tanin editor Huseyin Cahid, who was jailed for continuing to publish after a protest suspension in 1912.12345

What happened

The Ottoman Parliament had passed a comprehensive press law in 1909 requiring newspapers to register with the government and giving officials power to suspend and fine periodicals. Publishers exploited a loophole in the law, having suspended papers reappear under different names to escape court orders. Tanin, edited by Huseyin Cahid, suspended its own publication between July 28 and August 8, 1912, in protest of the dissolution of parliament. Shortly after Tanin resumed publishing, a martial court sentenced Cahid to one month in prison on charges that his articles threatened public order. Provincial governors, responsible for enforcing the law, complained it was too weak, and on February 16, 1913, a revision gave police power to confiscate periodicals that published obscene material. On March 9, 1913, the government extended the law further: it barred members of the Ayan and Mebusan houses of parliament and all state officials from becoming newspaper editors, and applied the ban retroactively to every periodical already in print.6712345

What reason was given

Stated justification

Officials said the existing law was too weak for provincial governors to enforce, and Huseyin Cahid was prosecuted on charges that his newspaper articles threatened public order.7

What changed for reporting

Lawmakers and officials who edited newspapers had to give up those positions once the March 1913 ban took retroactive effect, and editors who had evaded suspension orders by reappearing under new names lost that option.6

Timeline

1913

9 March 1913
Ottoman Empire bars lawmakers and officials from editing newspapers and jails a leading editor

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
Taninoutletaffected

Sources

  1. Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, 2003, reporting. Source record
  2. A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. In March 1913 the press law underwent an extensive modification that made it more restrictive.In March 1913, the Press Law underwent extensive modification, which made it even more restrictive.Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, 2003.Claim 957, checked 2026-09-26.
  2. The provision barring lawmakers and officials from editing newspapers was applied retroactively to every periodical already in print.The March 1912 provision concerning editors would be applied retroactively to all periodicals.Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, 2003.Claim 958, checked 2026-09-26.
  3. The revision barred senators, deputies and all state officials from becoming editors of newspapers.Senators, deputies, and all state officials were also prohibited from becoming editors of newspapers.Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, 2003.Claim 959, checked 2026-09-26.
  4. The most extensive arrangement to the press law was made on March 9, 1913, first changing the article on who could serve as editor.The most extensive arrangement was made on March 9, 1913. The first change was made in article three.A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931, A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931.Claim 960, checked 2026-09-26.
  5. A February 16, 1913 revision gave police the power to confiscate periodicals judged to have published obscene material.There was another rearrangement in the law on 16 February 1913. According to it, police had a right to confiscate the periodicals that published obscene news.A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931, A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931.Claim 961, checked 2026-09-26.
  6. Tanin, edited by Huseyin Cahid, suspended its own publication between July 28 and August 8, 1912, in protest of the dissolution of parliament.Hiiseyin Câhid had suspended the publication of his paper, Tanin, between July 28 and August 8, 1912, as an act of protest against the dissolution of the parliament.Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, 2003.Claim 955, checked 2026-09-26.
  7. A martial court sentenced Cahid to one month in prison on charges that his articles threatened public order.he was sentenced to one month in prison by a martial court with charges that his articles "threatened public order."Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913, 2003.Claim 956, checked 2026-09-26.