# Turkish authorities detain three journalists under 'disinformation' law

Published 2026-09-22. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 2 sources.

Status: in effect, as of 2026-09-22.

Turkish authorities detained three journalists, jailing columnist Tolga Sardan pending trial, under a 2022 law criminalizing the spread of disinformation, after the government's own disinformation-fighting body disputed their reporting on a leaked intelligence document and a story about released prisoners.[1]

- Country: [Türkiye](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/tr) (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)
- Where: Türkiye
- Level of government: National
- Tactics: Insult and defamation laws, Detention and violence
- Stage: Punish (ladder: https://thewaronnews.com/ladders/insult_and_defamation_laws#stage-punish)
- Head of government at the time: [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/recep-tayyip-erdogan)
- Issue of the day: Sardan had written about an alleged Turkish intelligence report on judicial corruption, which the government's Center for Combating Disinformation denied existed; Halk TV's Dincer Gokce had reported on people released from prison who were later linked to further crimes.
- Outcome: Ongoing. Two of the three journalists were released within a day; Tolga Sardan remained jailed pending trial.
- Era: The 2020s

## What happened

On November 1 and 2, 2023, Turkish authorities detained T24 columnist Tolga Sardan, Halk TV news editor Dincer Gokce and Kisa Dalga reporter Cengiz Erdinc under Turkiye's 2022 law criminalizing the spread of what officials call disinformation. Sardan was jailed pending trial after writing about an intelligence report on judicial corruption that the government's Center for Combating Disinformation said did not exist. Gokce was released after a court ordered him to read books about journalism, over an article about people released from prison who authorities said had been wrongly described. Erdinc was released the following day. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Turkish authorities to release Sardan and Erdinc without delay and said the vague law would continue to stifle reporting in the country.[1][2][3]

## What reason was given

Turkey's Center for Combating Disinformation denied the existence of the intelligence report Sardan had written about, and authorities said Gokce's article about released prisoners had proven inaccurate.[1][2][3]

## What changed for reporting

A columnist was jailed pending trial and another journalist was ordered by a court to read books about journalism, over stories the government's own disinformation body disputed rather than a court finding of falsity through an ordinary defamation process.[2]

## Timeline

- 2023-11-01: Turkish authorities detain three journalists under 'disinformation' law

## Who acted

| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan](https://thewaronnews.com/actors/recep-tayyip-erdogan) | other | President of Türkiye |
| [Turkish Center for Combating Disinformation](https://thewaronnews.com/actors/turkish-center-for-combating-disinformation) | enforced | Government body that disputes reporting it deems false |

## Sources

1. In Turkey, 3 journalists detained for 'disinformation,' one jailed, 3 others under investigation. https://cpj.org/2023/11/in-turkey-3-journalists-detained-for-disinformation-one-jailed-3-others-under-investigation/ (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2023-11-03).
2. Journalists criticize Turkey's disinformation law: 'Any information not from the government is labeled false'. https://www.mlsaturkey.com/en/journalists-criticize-turkeys-disinformation-law-any-information-not-from-the-government-is-labeled-false (Media and Law Studies Association, 2023-01-10).

## Claims cited

[1] CPJ called on Turkish authorities to release Sardan and Erdinc without delay under the disinformation law. Quote: "Turkish authorities should stop using this law against journalists; release columnist Tolga Sardan and reporter Cengiz Erdinc without delay" Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2023-11-03. In Turkey, 3 journalists detained for 'disinformation,' one jailed, 3 others under investigation. https://cpj.org/2023/11/in-turkey-3-journalists-detained-for-disinformation-one-jailed-3-others-under-investigation/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/461, checked 2026-09-22.

[2] CPJ said the vague disinformation law would continue to stifle reporting in Turkiye. Quote: "vague law criminalizing disinformation would stifle reporting in the country and they have been proven correct." Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2023-11-03. In Turkey, 3 journalists detained for 'disinformation,' one jailed, 3 others under investigation. https://cpj.org/2023/11/in-turkey-3-journalists-detained-for-disinformation-one-jailed-3-others-under-investigation/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/462, checked 2026-09-22.

[3] A Turkish journalist said any information not sourced from the government was treated as false under the law. Quote: "Any information not sourced from the government is deemed false." Source: Media and Law Studies Association, 2023-01-10. Journalists criticize Turkey's disinformation law: 'Any information not from the government is labeled false'. https://www.mlsaturkey.com/en/journalists-criticize-turkeys-disinformation-law-any-information-not-from-the-government-is-labeled-false Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/463, checked 2026-09-22.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2023-turkiye-detains-journalists-disinformation-law. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.