{
  "id": 224,
  "slug": "1913-ottoman-empire-press-law-bars-officials-from-editing-newspapers",
  "title": "Ottoman Empire bars lawmakers and officials from editing newspapers and jails a leading editor",
  "occurred_on": "1913-03-09",
  "occurred_on_precision": "day",
  "ended_on": null,
  "jurisdiction": "TR",
  "country": "TR",
  "continent": "asia",
  "level": "national",
  "type": null,
  "tactic_primary": "outlet_licensing",
  "leader_slug": "mehmed-v",
  "issue_of_the_day": "The Committee of Union and Progress had just retaken control of the Ottoman government in a coup in January 1913, after a period in which opposition newspapers had used loopholes in the 1909 press law to keep publishing despite suspension orders.",
  "outcome": "sustained",
  "outcome_on": "1913-03-09",
  "outcome_note": "The March 1913 amendment and its retroactive ban on lawmakers and officials editing newspapers remained the law under the Committee of Union and Progress government.",
  "granularity": "anchor",
  "era": "1910s",
  "summary": "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.{c:957}{c:958}{c:959}{c:960}{c:961}",
  "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.{c:955}{c:956}{c:957}{c:958}{c:959}{c:960}{c:961}",
  "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.{c:956}",
  "effect_on_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.{c:955}",
  "unknowns": null,
  "status": "historical",
  "status_updated_on": "2026-09-26",
  "external_ids": {},
  "illustration_key": null,
  "pub_state": "published",
  "published_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:57Z",
  "reviewed_on": "2026-09-26",
  "next_review_on": "2027-03-26",
  "revision": 5,
  "created_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:51Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-09-26T18:14:32Z",
  "stage": "silence",
  "ladder_note": null,
  "country_name": "Türkiye",
  "tactics": [
    "outlet_licensing",
    "detention_and_violence"
  ],
  "leader": {
    "slug": "mehmed-v",
    "name": "Mehmed V",
    "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/mehmed-v"
  },
  "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1913-ottoman-empire-press-law-bars-officials-from-editing-newspapers",
  "page_meta": {
    "published": "2026-09-26T18:08:57Z",
    "reviewed": "2026-09-26",
    "sources": 2,
    "status": "historical",
    "statusAsOf": "2026-09-26",
    "unknowns": null
  },
  "actors": [],
  "outlets": [
    {
      "slug": "tanin",
      "name": "Tanin",
      "relation": "affected",
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/outlets/tanin"
    }
  ],
  "journalists": [],
  "cases": [],
  "related": [],
  "events": [],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": 955,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 224,
      "field": "journalist_affected",
      "value": "Tanin suspended itself in protest, July-August 1912",
      "statement": "Tanin, edited by Huseyin Cahid, suspended its own publication between July 28 and August 8, 1912, in protest of the dissolution of parliament.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 596,
      "evidence_quote": "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.",
      "evidence_date": "2003",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-26",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "historical-2026-09-26",
      "created_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:51Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 596,
        "url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "final_url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "title": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "publisher": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "published_on": "2003",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-26T18:11:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/955"
    },
    {
      "id": 956,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 224,
      "field": "stated_justification",
      "value": "Editor jailed for articles said to threaten public order",
      "statement": "A martial court sentenced Cahid to one month in prison on charges that his articles threatened public order.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 596,
      "evidence_quote": "he was sentenced to one month in prison by a martial court with charges that his articles \"threatened public order.\"",
      "evidence_date": "2003",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-26",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "historical-2026-09-26",
      "created_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:52Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 596,
        "url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "final_url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "title": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "publisher": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "published_on": "2003",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-26T18:11:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/956"
    },
    {
      "id": 957,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 224,
      "field": "action",
      "value": "March 1913 press law amendment",
      "statement": "In March 1913 the press law underwent an extensive modification that made it more restrictive.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 596,
      "evidence_quote": "In March 1913, the Press Law underwent extensive modification, which made it even more restrictive.",
      "evidence_date": "2003",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-26",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "historical-2026-09-26",
      "created_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:53Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 596,
        "url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "final_url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "title": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "publisher": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "published_on": "2003",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-26T18:11:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/957"
    },
    {
      "id": 958,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 224,
      "field": "scope_of_action",
      "value": "Ban applied retroactively to all periodicals",
      "statement": "The provision barring lawmakers and officials from editing newspapers was applied retroactively to every periodical already in print.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 596,
      "evidence_quote": "The March 1912 provision concerning editors would be applied retroactively to all periodicals.",
      "evidence_date": "2003",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-26",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "historical-2026-09-26",
      "created_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:53Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 596,
        "url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "final_url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "title": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "publisher": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "published_on": "2003",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-26T18:11:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/958"
    },
    {
      "id": 959,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 224,
      "field": "action",
      "value": "Senators, deputies and officials barred from editing",
      "statement": "The revision barred senators, deputies and all state officials from becoming editors of newspapers.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 596,
      "evidence_quote": "Senators, deputies, and all state officials were also prohibited from becoming editors of newspapers.",
      "evidence_date": "2003",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-26",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "historical-2026-09-26",
      "created_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:54Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 596,
        "url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "final_url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
        "title": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "publisher": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
        "published_on": "2003",
        "link_state": "live",
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        "wayback_url": null,
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      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/959"
    },
    {
      "id": 960,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 224,
      "field": "occurred_on",
      "value": "Most extensive arrangement made March 9, 1913",
      "statement": "The most extensive arrangement to the press law was made on March 9, 1913, first changing the article on who could serve as editor.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 597,
      "evidence_quote": "The most extensive arrangement was made on March 9, 1913. The first change was made in article three.",
      "evidence_date": null,
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-26",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "historical-2026-09-26",
      "created_at": "2026-09-26T18:08:54Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 597,
        "url": "https://open.metu.edu.tr/bitstream/handle/11511/15618/index.pdf",
        "final_url": "https://open.metu.edu.tr/bitstream/handle/11511/15618/index.pdf",
        "title": "A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931",
        "publisher": "A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931",
        "published_on": null,
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-26T18:11:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
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      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/960"
    },
    {
      "id": 961,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 224,
      "field": "scope_of_action",
      "value": "February 1913 revision let police confiscate periodicals",
      "statement": "A February 16, 1913 revision gave police the power to confiscate periodicals judged to have published obscene material.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 597,
      "evidence_quote": "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.",
      "evidence_date": null,
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-26",
      "confidence": "medium",
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        "final_url": "https://open.metu.edu.tr/bitstream/handle/11511/15618/index.pdf",
        "title": "A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931",
        "publisher": "A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931",
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      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/961"
    }
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  "sources": [
    {
      "id": 596,
      "url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
      "final_url": "https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Yosmaolu-ChasingPrintedWord-2003.pdf",
      "title": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
      "publisher": "Chasing the Printed Word: Press Censorship in the Ottoman Empire, 1876-1913",
      "published_on": "2003",
      "link_state": "live",
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      "final_url": "https://open.metu.edu.tr/bitstream/handle/11511/15618/index.pdf",
      "title": "A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931",
      "publisher": "A Comparative Study of the Press Laws of 1909 and 1931",
      "published_on": null,
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-26T18:11:00Z",
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  ],
  "revisions_url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1913-ottoman-empire-press-law-bars-officials-from-editing-newspapers/revisions",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
  },
  "cite_as": "Ottoman Empire bars lawmakers and officials from editing newspapers and jails a leading editor. The War On News, thewaronnews.com. https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1913-ottoman-empire-press-law-bars-officials-from-editing-newspapers. Retrieved 2026-09-26."
}