Journalist Fırat Fıstık, who was on trial following a complaint by the Ministry of National Defense, has been sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison. The court has deferred the sentence. Fıstık has been unable to present his defense as his request for a postponement had been rejected

The final hearing in the trial of journalist Fırat Fıstık, who faces charges of “spreading false information” following a complaint by the Ministry of National Defense, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 12 November 2026.

Fıstık and his lawyers did not attend the hearing, which was covered by P24, citing a valid reason for their absence.

The Ministry’s lawyer and the prosecutor at the hearing requested that the defendant’s lawyer’s application for an adjournment be dismissed. The judge ruled to reject the defense’s request for an adjournment on the grounds that “although the defense counsel had been provided with sufficient time and opportunity to prepare their defense against the prosecutor’s opinion on the case, a further request for an adjournment had been made, and the reason given did not constitute a valid and compelling ground justifying the postponement of the hearing,” and proceeded with the hearing.

Presenting their final opinion on the case, the prosecutor sought the conviction of the journalist Fıstık for the impugned crime.

He was not given the opportunity to make a final statement

The Ministry’s lawyer, stating that they concurred with the prosecution’s submission, reiterated their previous statements and complaints, and called for Fıstık to be punished.

As journalist Fıstık was unable to attend the hearing, he was unable to present his defense against the prosecution’s final opinion, nor was he given the opportunity to make a final statement before the verdict was handed down.

In announcing the verdict, the judge first sentenced Fıstık to 1 year in prison for the impugned crime. On the grounds that the offense was committed through the press and media, the sentence was increased by half under Article 218/1 of the TCK, bringing it to 1 year and 6 months.

Subsequently, following a one-sixth reduction in accordance with Article 62 of the Turkish Penal Code, the sentence was set at 1 year and 3 months. The judge also ruled that the sentence should be deferred.

Background of the case

Fırat Fıstık was on trial on charges of “spreading false information” over a news article titled “Ministry purchases goods from Israel,” published in Sözcü daily on 14 November 2024.

In Fıstık’s article, it was stated that the General Directorate of Factories in Ankara, under the Ministry of National Defense, had made a purchase on 19 September 2024 for coolant for F-4 aircraft; that it had been announced on the Ministry’s website that the coolant, coded S0123, would be sourced from Elbit Systems, a company based in Haifa, Israel; and that Turkish companies had applied to the Ministry prior to the purchase but had received negative responses to their applications. The report also covered claims that trade with Israel was being conducted through private firms, allegations of oil shipments to Israel, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement regarding the severing of relations with Israel.

On 14 November 2024, the General Directorate of Legal Services of the Ministry of National Defense filed a criminal complaint regarding the report with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. As the headquarters of the Sözcü’s news site is located outside the jurisdiction of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the case was referred to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office following a decision on lack of jurisdiction.

In the indictment filed on 19 February 2025 concerning the case, it was alleged that the headline and content of the news article were “intended to create a perception contrary to the truth regarding the country’s internal and external security and public order.” The prosecution argued that the statements in the news report were “capable of disrupting public peace” and stated that there was sufficient grounds for suspicion to warrant the initiation of a public prosecution against Fıstık for the offense of “spreading false information.