From Promise to Practice: The Constitutional Regression of Freedom of Expression in Türkiye

This thesis examines the evolution of freedom of expression in Turkiye through a constitutional lens. While the Turkish Constitution includes strong guarantees for this fundamental right, recent decades have witnessed a steady erosion in both its interpretation and implementation. The study traces key legal and political developments that have contributed to this regression, focusing on constitutional amendments, judicial practices, and shifts in the broader political climate. Turkiye is the main case study, but Hungary is briefly discussed as a comparative reference to show that similar patterns may be emerging elsewhere in the region. The aim is to understand how democratic constitutions can gradually lose their protective power and what this means for the future of freedom of expression.