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Turgay and Others v. Turkey, Nos. 8306/08, 8340/08, 8366/08, ECtHR (Second Section), 15 June 2010

Abstract

Propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation. Arbitrary interferences with freedom of press.

Normative references

Art. 10 ECHR

Ruling

The practise of banning the future distribution of entire periodicals following the publication of articles considered propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation amounts to censorship. National authorities only have a limited margin of appreciation to decide whether there is a “pressing social need” to restrict the essential role of the press as a public watchdog in a democratic society.
(Case concerning the suspension of the distribution of two Turkish newspapers for one month, on account of previous publications mainly deemed to be propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation - a criminal offence under Turkish law. The Court found a violation of Art. 10 ECHR).