Can Dündar, the former editor of the Turkish centre-left Cumhuriyet newspaper is one of four nominees for this year’s prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The prize “is awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights across the globe, drawing attention to human rights violations as well as supporting the laureates and their cause.”

Can Dündar, the editor-in-chief of the national newspaper Cumhuriyet (Republic), at the newspaper’s building. Istanbul, Turkey. © Guy Martin

Dündar and his Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gül were arrested in early 2015 after the paper published pictures allegedly showing trucks delivering weapons from Turkey into Syria. They were held for 92 days, threatened with life imprisonment on espionage and and terror charges and publicly threatened by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Can Dündar (right) deciding on stories and the layout for the next edition in the offices of Cumhuriyet. Istanbul. © Guy Martin

After surviving an assassination attempt, Dündar resigned from the newspaper and is now believed to be living in Germany, fearful of returning to Turkey which has seen an unprecedented clampdown on the media following the failed military coup

Can Dundar at his home on the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus. Istanbul. © Guy Martin

Panos photographer Guy Martin spent a number of days shadowing Dündar at home and in his office in the month before the attempted coup and gained unique insight into the life and struggle of this courageous journalist and the challenges facing Turkish media more broadly.

Can Dündar at home with his wife Dilek at breakfast time. Dilek became a minor celebrity in her own right, after putting herself between a gunman and her husband during an attempted assassination on the steps of the Istanbul courthouse where Can Dundar was appearing on charges of treason and espionage. Istanbul. © Guy Martin

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