Is Equal Citizenship Confined to Istanbul?

12/07/2026

The Republic of Turkey is a state governed by the rule of law. At least, that is what the Constitution states. In a state ruled by law, public institutions cannot make arbitrary decisions. Every decision they make must have a clear, precise, and legal basis. Every authority exercised on behalf of the state stems from the law, not from personal preferences or managerial approaches.

It is precisely for this reason that the stance adopted by the Press Advertising Agency (Turkish: Basın İlan Kurumu) regarding Gazete Sabro has sparked a serious debate on law and equality. Publishing in Mardin for years, Gazete Sabro, much like the newspaper ‘Star of the East’ (Syriac: Kawkab Madinho), which began publishing in 1910, serves as the voice of the Syriac community, contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, and fights for the survival of minority press. Having benefited from the financial support provided to minority newspapers in previous years, Gazete Sabro was indirectly excluded from the scope of this support due to a requirement introduced in 2026 stating that the “publication headquarters must be located in Istanbul.”

A Legal Void and Questions of Equality

This is exactly where the problem begins, because the legal basis for this practice has not been disclosed to the public. Despite public criticism and formal appeals, the management of the Press Advertising Agency has failed to demonstrate which law or regulation this requirement is based upon. The management cites Law No. 5187 as a basis, but this law contains no condition requiring an “Istanbul-based” headquarters.

In a state governed by the rule of law, silence is not a defense. Silence only amplifies question marks. What is even more thought-provoking is this: while newspapers publishing in every corner of Turkey are considered part of this country’s press, when it comes to the minority press, an “Istanbul address” is mandated. It is impossible to reconcile this mindset with equality.

Is Mardin not a province of the Republic of Turkey? Why is a newspaper publishing in Mardin treated differently solely because of its address? The metric for distributing public resources must be the law, not the city. Otherwise, this cannot be called public service; it is a centralized and arbitrary approach.

Centralization versus the Diversity of Anatolia

The Press Advertising Agency has the word “Press” in its very name. However, it appears that some press organizations are deemed more “equal” than others. While a minority newspaper publishing in Istanbul is supported, it is unacceptable that Gazete Sabro, which undertakes the exact same mission in Mardin, is excluded merely because of its publication headquarters.

This approach not only harms the principle of equality but also sends a clear message to media outlets practicing journalism in Anatolia: “If you are not in the center, you do not exist.” However, Turkey does not consist solely of Istanbul. Neither the culture, the history, nor the press of this country lives only in Istanbul. Mardin is also a city of this country. The newspapers publishing on these lands are also the press of this country.

The duty of the Press Advertising Agency is not to reward specific cities, but to apply the law equally. Enforcing a condition not found in the law through administrative practice brings the principle of the rule of law into question. State institutions instill trust; arbitrariness, however, destroys it.

Today, the issue is not just Gazete Sabro. The issue is whether public institutions act according to the law or according to arbitrary practices. Equal citizenship is not an expression that should remain solely on the pages of the Constitution. If we are truly speaking of equal citizenship, this equality must not begin and end within the borders of Istanbul. Because Turkey is not comprised of Istanbul alone.

This article was originally published in Turkish by Gazete Sabro on 12 July 2026. You can find the original here.

The views expressed in this op-ed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of SyriacPress.