Journalists and academics bear the brunt of the massive crackdown on freedom of expression in Turkey. Scores of them are currently subject to criminal investigations or behind bars. This website is dedicated to tracking the legal process against them.
Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş jailed; Safiye Alağaş given jail term; five journalists arrested; seven journalists released pending trial
Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş jailed
Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş was imprisoned pending trial as part of an investigation launched by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on 30 January 2025.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had instructed the İstanbul Security Directorate to launch an investigation against the media outlets that published the name of an expert who wrote reports on İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's Esenyurt and Beşiktaş municipalities.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation against Halk TV, which broadcast the phone call with the expert, with the allegations of “recording and publishing conversations between individuals” and “attempting to influence the expert.” Presenter of the broadcast Seda Selek, interviewer Barış Pehlivan, and program coordinator Oğuz were arrested as part of the same investigation on 28 January and released under judicial control measures.
On the other hand, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) President Ebubekir Şahin stated that an investigation has been launched against Halk TV for allegedly “recording and publishing the phone call with the expert without permission.” İlhan Taşçı, a CHP member of RTÜK, announced on the X platform that RTÜK imposed a 3 percent administrative fine on Halk TV for “violating the right to privacy."
ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür jailed
Police raided the homes of members and executives of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Socialist Women's Assemblies (SKM), Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) and Science Education Culture Art Research Foundation (BEKSAV) as part of an investigation launched by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the year 2024.
During the raids, 20 people, including ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür, were arrested.
Müldür was imprisoned pending trial on 25 January.
Seven journalists released pending trial
Imprisoned journalists Gülistan Dursun, Can Papila, Pınar Gayıp, Serpil Ünal, Hayri Tunç, Muhammed Enes Sezgin and Osman Akın were released pending trial on 31 January 2025.
The decision to release the journalists was taken by the İstanbul 24th High Criminal Court on the basis of a summary judgment. The indictment charges the journalists with “insult,” “terrorism propaganda” (TMK 7/2) and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations ” The first hearing in the case, which includes 14 defendants including the seven released journalists, will be held on 11 April.
On 21 December 2024, the police intervened a group of journalists who had gathered at Şişhane Square in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul to protest the killing of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in a drone attack while they were following news reports in Syria.
During the intervention, many journalists were detained and nine people, seven of whom were journalists, were arrested.
The police broke up a group of demonstrators, who gathered at the Şişhane Square in Beyoğlu, İstanbul on 21 December 2024 to protest the killing of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in a drone attack while reporting in Syria.
Many journalists were detained during the police intervention. Nine detainees were placed in pre-trial detention, including seven journalists, namely Gülistan Dursun, Can Papila, Pınar Gayıp, Serpil Ünal, Hayri Tunç, Enes Sezgin and Osman Akın.
Journalists Zeynep Kuray, Yadigar Aygün, Mahsum Sağlam, as well as Yağmur Filiz and Pelin Laçin, who were transferred to the court with a request for judicial control measures were released under judicial control measures.
Investigation against Sözcü TV reporter Fırat Fıstık
An investigation has been launched against Sözcü TV Reporter Fırat Fıstık by İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Making a statement on social media platform X, Fıstık said, “While I was listening to İmamoğlu's press conference on the judiciary, my phone rang and a police officer told me that an investigation was launched against me. I was called to testify 'urgently' by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office over a news report I made. What to say...”
Investigation against Şirin Payzın for “terrorism propaganda”
Journalist Şirin Payzın announced on her X account on January 28 that an investigation has been opened against her on the suspicion of “terrorism propaganda.”
In her first post, Payzın said, “Yes, a ‘propaganda’ investigation has been opened against me too, I just found out.”
In the following post, she stated that a notification was sent to her and that “an arrest warrant will be issued” if she does not go to testify.
Investigation into the reporting on the expert whose name revealed by Ekrem İmamoğlu
İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on charges of “attempting to influence the expert” and “attempting to influence the fair trial” over the statements he made in his press statement on 27 January.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also instructed the İstanbul Security Directorate to carry out an investigation against the media outlets that published the name of the expert, whose name İmamoğlu announced in print and visual media.
Stating that a lawsuit was filed against him due to a tender during his term as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü Municipality, İmamoğlu revealed the name of the expert and said that “he presented the report to the court as if it did not exist.”
İsmet Orhan briefly detained
Journalist İsmet Orhan announced in a post on the night of 30 January that he was taken into custody from his home.
Orhan was released after statement procedures.
Fine issued against BirGün’s İbrahim Aydın, who was put on trial upon Bilal Erdoğan's complaint
The first hearing in the retrial of İbrahim Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BirGün newspaper, on the charge of “insult” upon the complaint of Bilal Erdoğan, son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was held at the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 30 January 2025.
Aydın and his lawyer were present at the hearing.
In 2016, İbrahim Aydın and his lawyer were present at the first hearing in the retrial following the reversal of the decision to defer the sentence. Erdoğan's lawyer stated that their complaints continued and demanded İbrahim Aydın be punished.
The prosecutor announced their final opinion on the case and demanded sentencing for the impugned crime.
The court sentenced Aydın to TL 2,610 judicial fine.
Aydın was on trial over the news article titled “Hırsıza hırsız dediler davalık oldular” (They called the thief a thief and got sued) published in BirGün on 27 February 2015. Aydın was retried after the initial ruling was overturned.
Abdullah Kaya's trial on “terrorism” charges adjourned until April
The 33rd hearing in the case against Abdullah Kaya, reporter of the shut-down Dicle News Agency (DİHA), on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Ağrı 2nd High Criminal Court on 30 January 2025.
Kaya attended the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system, while Kaya's lawyer did not attend the hearing.
In his defense, Kaya said, “As a free press employee, we are targeted for our pursuit of the truth. Dozens of my colleagues are arrested and imprisoned every day. No matter what happens, we will fulfill our duty as free press without giving up.”
After the defenses, the court adjourned the trial until 15 April 2025.
Mehmet Şah Oruç's trial adjourned until May
The fifth hearing in the trial of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Mehmet Şah Oruç on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Bitlis 2nd High Criminal Court on 30 January 2025.
The case was adjourned until 20 May 2025.
Abdurrahman Gök's ban on leaving the country was not lifted
The sixth hearing in the trial of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 30 January 2025.
Gök and his lawyer did not attend the hearing.
The court decided to evaluate the request for lifting the ban on leaving the country together with the verdict.
The trial was adjourned until 22 April 2025.
Gök remained in pre-trial detention for 225 days as part of the case.
“Özgür Gündem solidarity” trial adjourned until January
The 12th hearing in the retrial of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu, rights defender and former Turkish Medical Association Central Council President Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı and journalist-writer Ahmet Nesin, whose acquittals in the Özgür Gündem solidarity case were overturned by the appellate court, was held at the İstanbul 13th High Criminal Court on 30 January 2025.
Önderoğlu and his lawyer were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.
Önderoğlu's lawyer Abbas Yalçın demanded the completion of missing issues in the case file.
The court decided to wait for the return of the letter of appeal sent abroad for Ahmet Nesin's defense. The trial was adjourned until 29 April 2025.
Prosecutor demands sentencing for Hayri Demir on “terrorism” charges
The seventh hearing in the retrial of journalist Hayri Demir on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” over news materials found on an external hard drive was held at the Ankara 15th High Criminal Court on 29 January 2025.
Demir was present in the courtroom whereas his lawyer Nuray Özdoğan excused herself.
Presenting their final opinion on the case, the prosecutor demanded that Demir be sentenced for the impugned crimes.
The court adjourned the trial until 14 April 2025.
Sultan Eylem Keleş handed jail term for “insulting the president”
The third hearing in the retrial of journalist Sultan Eylem Keleş on charges of “insulting the president” (TCK 299) was held at the İzmir 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 29 January 2025.
Keleş did not attend the hearing, while her lawyer Sefkan Işık was present in the courtroom.
Lawyer Işık stated that he repeated his previous defenses and asked for a verdict of acquittal, stating that the posts in question did not form the elements of the impugned crime and should be considered within the scope of freedom of expression.
The prosecutor repeated their final opinion and demanded Keleş be sentenced for the impugned crime.
Following the demands, the court reiterated the previous verdict and sentenced journalist Keleş to 1 year and 2 months and deferred the sentence.
The lawsuit filed against journalist Keleş on the charge of “insulting the president” over her social media posts was reopened after the Constitutional Court's violation decision.
Request of plaintiffs to join the case as co-plaintiffs in the trial of Şehriban Aslan and two other defendants accepted
The first hearing in the trial of journalist Şehriban Aslan and two alleged news sources on the charge of “violating the privacy of private life” over the news item published in JinNews about the irregular use of vehicles at Diyarbakır Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services was held at the Diyarbakır 16th Criminal Court of First Instance on 29 January 2025.
Aslan, other defendants, and their lawyers attended the hearing.
The court accepted the request of the plaintiffs to participate in the case as co-plaintiffs, and rejected the requests for the notification of the uncollected evidence and the extension of the trial on the grounds that it would not add anything new to the case.
The trial was adjourned until 17 February 2025.
Former journalist and Siirt Co-Mayor Safiye Alağaş handed jail term
The seventh hearing in the trial of former journalist and Siirt Co-Mayor Safiye Alağaş on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” over her past journalistic activity was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 28 January 2025.
While Alağaş did not attend the hearing, her lawyers Resul Tamur and Pirozhan Karali Güler were present in the room.
Resul Tamur, the first lawyer to make his defense, said, “While making our defenses, we will not make a defense against a legal opinion. Until the previous hearing, the case was proceeding as usual. Some of the verdicts were abandoned in the last hearing and the witness was heard, which made us think that there was a political intervention in the case. She was tried for being a journalist, but the desire to finalize the case stems from the fact that she was elected co-mayor.”
Reminding that the court had abandoned the files in Siirt and Diyarbakır, Tamur said, “We know that this is not the case for your court and other courts. It is precisely for this reason that the sudden interruption of a normal process has led us to believe that there is a direct political intervention in the proceedings regarding this process. The hearing in the secret witness without making it a subject of the indictment is a political intervention in the trial.”
Lawyer Pirozhan Karali Güler stated that they disagreed with the final verdict and pointed out that there was no evidence that her client was “a member of an illegal organization.” Stating that there is no concrete evidence in the file, Pirozhan Karali Güler demanded her client's acquittal.
Lawyer Veysel Ok also pointed out that there is no legal explanation for the demand for punishment over the news reports and said, “When you go to a journalist's house, of course you will encounter news items and photographs. Just because you find news pieces at home, you cannot associate it with an illegal organization.”
The hearing was adjourned for a decision. After the recess, Safiye Alağaş was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison by majority vote.
An indictment was filed against then JinNews director Safiye Alağaş, who was imprisoned pending trial on 16 June 2022 along with 15 other journalists and press workers as part of a Diyarbakır-based investigation, on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The 383-page indictment was accepted by the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court. Alağaş was released on 15 June, the day of the first hearing. At the sixth hearing in the case on 9 January, the prosecutor announced their final opinion on the case and demanded sentencing for the impugned crimes.
Hakkı Boltan's trial for “insulting the president” adjourned until May
The sixth hearing in the trial of journalist Hakkı Boltan due to “insulting the president” was held at the Diyarbakır 12thCriminal Court of First Instance on 28 January 2025.
Boltan did not attend the hearing, while his lawyer Resul Tamur was present in the courtroom.
The court referred the case to the prosecutor’s office for the final opinion to be filed.
The trial was adjourned until 6 May 2025.
SADAT founder Adnan Tanrıverdi's compensation case against Evrensel newspaper adjourned until May
The second hearing in the compensation case brought upon a complaint by Adnan Tanrıverdi, founder of the International Defense Consultancy Company (SADAT), against Evrensel newspaper on the charge of “violation of personal rights” was held at the İstanbul Bakırköy 4th Commercial Court of First Instance on 28 January 2025.
The court rejected the defense's request to dismiss the case due to statute of limitations.
The trial was adjourned until 20 May 2025.
Charlie Hebdo trial adjourned until July
The eighth hearing in the trial of Charlie Hebdo magazine's Managing Director Julien Serignac, Editor-in-Chief Gerard Biard, Editor-in-Chief Laurent Sorurisseau and cartoonist Alice on the charge of “insulting the president” was held at the Ankara 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 27 January 2025.
The case was adjourned until 2 July 2025.
An investigation was launched into the cartoon featuring President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's photograph in the 28 October 2020 issue of the French magazine and that four employees of the magazine were charged with “insulting the president” in the indictment filed by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The trial of Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı on charges of TCK 301 adjourned
The second hearing in the trial of rights defender Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, former Chair of the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and Board Member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), on charges of “denigrating the Turkish Nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial organs of the state” was held at the İstanbul 31 Criminal Court of First Instance on 27 January 2025.
Fincancı and her lawyer Meriç Eyüboğlu did not attend the hearing, which was monitored by P24. Many people, including CHP MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu and representatives of the German and US consulates, monitored the hearing.
The court issued a summons for Fincancı and adjourned the trial until 27 January 2025.
After the identification, Şebnem Korur Fincancı made her defense and rejected the charges against her: “My words subject to the lawsuit were an interview on torture, which is defined in Article 94 of the Turkish Penal Code. The fact that torture is still practiced is a criminal offense. Therefore, those who torture insult the Republic of Turkey and its citizens. The Republic of Turkey became a party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1984. However, officials who do not fulfill the commitment humiliate us all.
“There is a Constitutional Court decision regarding Besna Tosun, one of the Saturday Mothers/People. Besna Tosun was subjected to police violence during the Saturday Mothers protest. The Constitutional Court ruled a violation of rights on the charge of torture, in other words, on the offense of torture. So, will the Constitutional Court also be also tried under Article 301? I acted with the responsibility of a citizen, I identified the act of torture with the motive of revealing the crime of torture and I used the words subject to the lawsuit. I received human rights award this year. This lawsuit is also a reward. I am doing my homework, which is why I am on trial. I reject the charges against me.”
Fincancı's lawyer Eyüboğlu said, “Our client has been working in the field of human rights for many years. She has especially worked on torture. The client has expressed the facts and made a determination. Speaking the truth is not a crime. The elements of the crime charged against her did not form.”
The prosecutor asked for more time to prepare their final opinion on the case.
The court decided to send the file to the prosecutor's office to for the final opinion and adjourned the trial until 20 February 2025.
The indictment against Fincancı was issued following a denunciation sent by an anonymous person via Presidential Directorate of Communications (CİMER). The indictment cites as evidence the statements made by Fincancı, who was a guest on a program broadcast on YouTube on 6 July 2021.
At least 32 journalist and media workers in prison
Following the imprisonment of Suat Toktaş and Züleyha Müldür, and release of seven journalists, as of 31 January 2025, there are at least 32 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either in pre-trial detention or serving a sentence.
The full list can be accessed here.