Istanbul , Turkey ( CNN ) -- Investigative newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz thought he faced 10 criminal cases against him for articles he had written . But when he logged on to a Turkish government website to check his legal status , Saymaz discovered an unpleasant surprise : two new cases filed against him . `` They are asking for up to 95 years imprisonment for me in these 12 [ cases ] , '' he said . The charges against Saymaz range from violating secrecy to influencing judicial processes . Media watchdog organizations warn growing numbers of Turkish journalists now face not only the threat of lawsuits and fines for their work , but also possible jail sentences . According to the International Press Institute , as of September 30 , 50 press workers were incarcerated in Turkish prisons and at least 50 more were facing possible jail sentences . The climate of intimidation led the European Commission to accuse Turkey of not sufficiently guaranteeing freedom of expression . `` Concerns remain as regards political attacks against the press , '' the European Commission announced Tuesday , in its annual progress report on Turkey 's bid to become the first predominantly Muslim country to join the European Union . The European report comes on the heels of a decision by the association Reporters Without Borders to downgrade Turkey 's rating on a press freedoms index . In two years , Turkey has dropped from 102 to 138 on the association 's index , and now sits among the bottom 40 countries of the world when it comes to freedom of the press . `` These declines can be explained , '' Reporters Without Borders wrote , `` by the frenzied proliferation of lawsuits , incarcerations , and court sentencing targeting journalists . '' At a speech in England on Monday , Turkish President Abdullah Gul conceded his country faced shortcomings when it comes to freedom of the press . `` There are unfortunately certain cases that have been brought before the courts about journalists and it is a cause of concern for us as well , '' Gul said . `` There are certain legal amendments that will be introduced on this subject . '' Gul 's Justice and Development Party , or AKP , has instituted historic reforms since it first swept to power in 2002 . Strict taboos imposed by the once politically-dominant Turkish military have been relaxed . `` The taboos have changed . The military is not taboo anymore , '' said Mehmet Ali Birand , a veteran journalist who was black-listed and lost his job for his critical reporting on the military-dominated regime . But as power has shifted over the past decade from military to civilian rule , the AKP government has introduced laws that make it easier to prosecute journalists . A 2005 change to the Turkish penal code established prison sentences for press-related crimes such as `` breach of secrecy '' and `` influencing of a fair trial . '' The journalistic red lines are now much harder to discern , said Mehmet Ali Birand -- who anchors the prime-time evening news on Turkey 's Kanal D. `` We knew what the military censorship was , '' Birand said . `` The problem with civilian government -- you do n't know . ... It 's very , very unpredictable now . '' Last year , the Turkish government slapped Birand 's employer , Dogan Media Group , with a $ 2.5 billion fine for unpaid taxes . At the time the assets of Dogan Group , Turkey 's largest media conglomerate ( and a business partner of CNN 's parent company Turner Broadcasting ) , was valued at $ 2.8 billion . Tuesday 's European Commission assessment report argued the penalty against Dogan Group amounted to a political attack against the press . Throughout Dogan Group 's subsequent battle over tax evasion charges , several journalists working for the conglomerate -- speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of losing their jobs -- told CNN they routinely self-censor reports to avoid arousing further anger from the government . But journalists said they are also frequently targeted by court cases launched by the political opposition . Investigative journalist Ismail Saymaz said roughly half the cases he faces stem from articles critical of the AKP government , while the other half come from articles critical of Turkey 's older secular establishment . `` In a country like Turkey , where political polarization is widening between traditional power-holders from the military and Kemalists on the one hand and conservative liberals on the other , ... we journalists become the ones who take the first bullet , '' he said . In 2007 , Armenian newspaper editor Hrant Dink was gunned down outside his office in downtown Istanbul . The man accused of Dink 's murder was caught on security camera moments after he allegedly shot the editor . Three years later , he has not been convicted . In the meantime , newspaper columnist Nedim Sener has been fighting in court after publishing a book accusing Turkish police of not doing enough to stop Dink 's murder . At one point , Sener faced a possible 32 years in prison -- a stiffer penalty than the one potentially faced by the alleged murderer . Last summer , a court acquitted Sener . Several police officers named in his book are trying to appeal the decision , he said . During a state visit to England , Turkish President Abdullah Gul urged observers to appreciate the democratic reforms his government achieved over the past nine years .
Media watchdog organizations say Turkish journalists face trial , jail sentenced . 50 foreign workers imprisoned in Turkey ; 50 more facing possible jail sentences , they report . ` ` Everyone in Turkey today can express their opinion , '' says Turkey 's president .