Speakers

Metin Cihan Yucel

Investigative Journalist

Metin Cihan Yucel has focused his journalism on uncovering truths that authorities tried to hide from the public through his investigations and reporting. As a result, he faced threats and pressure from the government and its affiliated groups. He was forced to leave the country and, with support from RSF and ECPMF, continued his work abroad.

During the Gaza War that began in October 2023, President Erdoğan publicly condemned the massacres committed by Israel, calling it a terrorist state. However, Metin Cihan exposed the hypocrisy behind these statements. Using official documents, he revealed ongoing trade between Turkey and Israel, including goods used in military and state institutions. He also showed—through public records and international shipping data—that at the very moment Erdoğan was denouncing Israel, a ship directly linked to the Erdoğan family was conducting business at an Israeli port.

This exposure of Erdoğan’s hypocrisy became one of the key factors influencing the 2024 local elections. For the first time in 22 years, Erdoğan’s party (AKP) suffered an electoral defeat and lost significant public support.

Metin Cihan’s Twitter (X) account (@metcihan), where he shared his findings and documents, is blocked in Turkey.