Turkey
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
32 / 100
Not Free
Internet Freedom
31 / 100
Not Free
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), which have ruled Turkey since 2002, have become increasingly authoritarian in recent years, consolidating significant power through constitutional changes and by imprisoning opponents and critics.
Research & Recommendations
Turkey
Not Free
32
100
| PR Political Rights | 16 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 16 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
33
100
Not Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose Justice and Development Party (AKP) has ruled Turkey since 2002, has become increasingly authoritarian over the past decade, consolidating power through constitutional changes and the imprisonment of political opponents, independent journalists, and members of civil society. The AKP has responded to recent economic challenges and municipal election defeats by intensifying its efforts to suppress dissent and jail opposition politicians.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Turkey
Not Free
31
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 14 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 10 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 7 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
31
100
Not Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom remained heavily restricted in Turkey during the coverage period and the government continued to enforce a host of repressive laws to curtail online expression. Access to social media platforms was throttled during opposition demonstrations, and authorities issued scores of orders to block websites and remove content. Online troll networks continued to amplify progovernment disinformation, and journalists, activists, and social media users faced criminal charges for the content they posted. An age-verification law that was passed in April 2026—although it had not been enacted by the end of the coverage period—threatens online privacy by requiring social media platforms to install age-verification systems or face heavy fines and bandwidth restrictions.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
Turkey has been a place of refuge for individuals fleeing repression in neighboring countries and is home to many Uyghurs, one of the diasporas most at risk today of transnational repression. At the same time, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has repeatedly employed tactics of transnational repression—including extradition, kidnapping, surveillance, and harassment—to target political opponents around the world. The Turkish state’s current campaign of transnational repression is remarkable for its intensity, its geographic reach, and the suddenness with which it escalated.
Policy Recommendations: Transnational Repression
Raising awareness about the threat of transnational repression.
Like-minded governments and international organizations should work together to highlight the threat of transnational repression and establish international norms for addressing it.
Limiting the ability of perpetrators to commit transnational repression.
This includes agreeing on a common definition of transnational repression, and prohibiting the use of Interpol notices on their own to deny immigration or asylum benefits or conduct arrests.
Bringing accountability for acts of transnational repression.
Among other tactics, governments should deploy a robust strategy for targeted sanctions against perpetrators of transnational repression.
Sofya Alagaş is a fearless journalist who reported on women's issues, and human rights abuses, including those committed by Turkish security forces. While Sofya has been released pending trial, she continues to face unjust charges and remains under a travel ban.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
32
/ 100
Not Free
Freedom on the Net Score
31
/ 100
Not Free
Population: 84,980,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
May 14, 2023
Type of Election
General
Internet Penetration
76.48%
Election Year
2023
Vulnerability Index
33
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Origin Country
Tactics
Rendition, Digital Threat, Family Intimidation, Interpol Abuse, Mobility Controls
Targets
Members of the Gülen movement, supporters of Kurdish autonomy, and leftists
Status
Host Country
Key Origin States
Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan
Best Practices
Special migration pathways for some vulnerable diaspora; Protection offered to some targeted individuals
Featured Experts
