Journalists Sanctuary International (JSI) has called for the immediate curtailment of order by authorities in Turkiye for the imprisonment of investigative journalist Baris Pehlivan.

The JSI is also calling on government of Turkiye to stop the prosecution and persecution of all journalists being arrested for holding the government to account.

The organisation in a statement issued and signed by Mr Latif Iddrisu, the President of JSI said it is concerned at the spate of persecution of journalists in Turkiye.

It added that "the apparent trend of throwing journalists into prison in Turkiye for critical reportages is
worrying" as 11per cent of the 363 journalists imprisoned worldwide in 2022 were in Turkey.

"And for a country notorious for jailing journalists, JSI is even more concerned about the peculiar
case of Baris Pehlivan who has been in and out of prison simply for doing his work.

"No journalist should go to jail for doing their legitimate work, particularly in a country that pride
itself as a democratic state.

"We repeat our call for the immediate end of the prosecution of Pehlivan," portions of the release indicated.