Erdoan v free speech: how does it feel to live in Turkey right now? – The Guardian

A referendum on constitutional changes that could expand President Erdoans powers will take place on 16 April. Photograph: Ozan Kse/AFP/Getty

Turkey, once held up as an exemplar of secular democracy in the Muslim world, is now the worlds biggest prison for journalists. Since he came to power in 2014, president Recep Tayyip Erdoan has slowly tightened his grip on freedom of expression, choking his critics.

Editors of national newspapers now face life sentences for working against the state. People have been arrested for Facebook posts criticising the government and last week over 4,400 public servants were sacked in an act branded by critics as a witchhunt targeting the political opposition.

Meanwhile Erdoan has maintained cordial diplomatic relations with global leaders including Donald Trump, Theresa May and Vladimir Putin, and hopes to extend his constitutional powers with a referendum on 16 April.

If you live in Turkey we want to hear how the climate is affecting you.

Has the crackdown on expression affected your daily life? When did you notice that free speech was being compromised? Have you adjusted what you say and do online? And what advice would you give to other people around the world living under a similar style of leader?

Fill in your details in the form below and well use some of your submissions in our coverage of freedom of speech in Turkey. Alternatively, you can email maeve.shearlaw@theguardian.com.

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Erdoan v free speech: how does it feel to live in Turkey right now? - The Guardian