Top Investigative Journalists in Türkiye Receive EU Awards

Stories about political killing, misuse of the Red Crescent after the earthquakes in 2023 and bringing children from Brazil’s Amazon forests to Türkiye were awarded as the best investigative stories that year.

Asuman Aranca Kol, Murat Ağırel, Hale Gönülta and Thalys Augusto de Alcantara Anjos were announced as the winners.

First prize went to Asuman Aranca Kol for her investigation into the political murder of Sinan Ateş, exposing the connections between former far-right Grey Wolves (Ülkü Ocaklan) executives, political figures and law enforcement. The jury said the story had uncovered critical details that had kept the case in the public eye and intensified calls for justice.

Second prize was given to Murat Ağırel whose story revealed that, amidst the earthquake crisis, the Turkish Red Crescent sold emergency tents intended for quake victims.

The jury said the story reveals the Red Crescent’s management coordination problems, misuse of resources, and that a charity had effectively turned into a commercial enterprise. The report led to public outrage and the resignation of the Red Crescent’s then president.

Third prize went to Hale Gönülta and Thalys Augusto de Alcantara Anjos for documenting how the Süleymancılar organisation has brought children from Brazil’s Amazon forests to Türkiye, allegedly as part of a way to expand Turkish influence in the country. Following the report, the children were returned to Brazil.

Special recognition was awarded to Tunca Öğreten and Murat Baykara for their impactful, ethical coverage of Türkiye’s drug crisis, shedding light on a hidden yet critical public issue.

The jury consisted of Faruk Bildirici, Çiğdem Toker, and Tülay Ünal Öçten.

Bildirici is a veteran journalist since the 1980s who has held editorial roles at Cumhuriyet and Hürriyet and is a former RTÜK member and currently contributes to outlets including ANKAe and T24. Toker is an investigative journalist with over 35 years of experience, known for her coverage of public procurement, corruption and economic transparency, working at T24 and Now TV. Tülay Ünal Öçten is Ankara bureau chief at Now TV and has had a long career with TRT and Star TV.

Thomas Hans Ossowski, Head of the European Union’s delegation to Türkiye, gave a speech at the ceremony reconfirming the EU’s support for investigative journalism in the country and internationally.