Mahmut Altıntaş handed 2 jail terms within 5 days; Nevşin Mengü sentenced to imprisonment; Gökhan Yavuzel acquitted; Levent Gültekin acquitted of “insulting the president”

Journalist Mahmut Altıntaş sentenced to 2 years in prison in 2 cases within 5 days

Ajansa Welat reporter Mahmut Altıntaş was sentenced to prison in two different cases in five days. The fourth hearing in the trial of Altıntaş, who was detained by force in Yeni Mahalle neighborhood of Adıyaman on 27 January 2024 while he was on his way to covering news, on the charge of “resisting the police,” was held at the Adıyaman 4th Criminal Court of First Instance on 21 February 2025. The court sentenced Altıntaş to 5 months in prison.

The first hearing in another trial of Altıntaş on the charge of “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Adıyaman 2nd High Criminal Court on 26 February 2025. The court sentenced Altıntaş to 1 year 6 months and 20 days in prison and deferred the sentence.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Investigation against Ahmet Kanbal on suspicion of “spreading false information"

An investigation has been launched against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Ahmet Kanbal for “spreading false information” over his news report on an alleged irregularity in the AKP-affiliated Midyat Municipality.

Journalist Kanbal was summoned to Mardin Provincial Security Directorate as part of the investigation launched upon the complaint of Midyat Municipality, and gave a statement.

Kanbal stated in his statement that his news report was made within the scope of the public's right to receive news, and was released from the police station after his statement.

Investigation launched against Oktay Candemir

Journalist Oktay Candemir gave his statement at the police station within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Van Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of “spreading false information” and “violating the publication ban.” Vanpostası newspaper owner Ziya Türk's news articles against Candemir were included in the investigation file as evidence.

The investigation was launched over Candemir's post about AKP Van Provincial Chair Abdulahat Arvas' application to the Ministry of Interior to become mayor during the trustee process, and his news article titled “Bolu Kartalkaya’da Otel Katliamı: 79 Ölü” (Hotel Massacre in Bolu Kartalkaya: 79 Dead).

Candemir said in his statement that Arvas was the AKP Provincial Chair for Van, had previously served as a member of the Parliament and was the AKP's candidate for mayor of Van in the March 31 elections. “Arvas is a politician and is well known by the public. It is natural to criticize Arvas and make news against him. The report is within the scope of journalism,” he said.

Journalists from Van appeal to bar association against police violence

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG) and journalists from the city paid a visit to Van Bar Association. Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by lawyers from Van Bar Association Human Rights Center (İHM), DFG Van Representative Adnan Bilen pointed out that the crackdowns and violence against journalists increased especially after the appointment of a trustee to the Van Metropolitan Municipality on 15 February.

Stating that journalists have been subjected to police violence, threats, detentions, and their social media accounts blocked, Bilen conveyed a joint request to the Van Bar Association to report what happened and to file the necessary criminal complaints.

Bar Association President Sinan Özaraz stated that after the violations are reported, these reports will be shared with the Security Directorate, the Governorate, and the relevant ministries, along with the available evidence for the criminal complaints to be filed.

Öznur Değer transferred to another prison without her lawyer being informed

JinNews News Director Öznur Değer, who was jailed after being detained in a house raid in Mardin on 7 February was placed in Mardin E Type Closed Prison.

Değer was transferred to Erzincan Women's Closed Prison without her relatives and lawyers being informed.

His family, who went to Mardin E Type Closed Prison to meet with Değer, had to return from the gate.

Indictment filed against Vedat Örüç for “membership in a terrorist organization”

The investigation against journalist Vedat Örüç, who was detained in house raids on 17 January as part of an İstanbul-based investigation and was imprisoned pending trial on 20 January on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and put in Marmara Prison, was completed and an indictment was filed.

The broadcast of the program produced by Güncel Prodüksiyon on Medya Haber TV was included in the accusations against Örüç. In the indictment, Örüç's insured employment at Güncel Prodüksiyon was also considered evidence of “being a member of a terrorist organization.”

In the indictment, which includes Örüç's phone taps, the photographs taken by the police of Örüç leaving the premises of Güncel Prodüksiyon where he worked were also cited as “evidence of a crime” in the file.

Journalist Nevşin Mengü sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “terrorism propaganda”

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Nevşin Mengü on the charge of “terrorism propaganda” over her interview with former PYD co-chair Salih Muslim was held at the İstanbul 22nd High Criminal Court on 27 February 2025.

Mengü's lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24. Mengü did not attend the hearing.

The prosecutor repeated their final opinion on the case presented in the first hearing on 24 January 2025 and requested Mengü to be sentenced for “terrorism propaganda.”

Mengü's lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz said, “Our client has no criminal intent. The publication in question is an interview conducted to find concrete data for a current debate. The client has only practiced journalism within the scope of the public's right to information. The client removed the broadcast 20 minutes after the broadcast was made because of the friendly suggestions of both his lawyers and colleagues.”

Presenting three separate scientific opinions to the file, Ersöz demanded the acquittal of his client within the framework of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

The court unanimously sentenced Mengü to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “terrorism propaganda.” The sentence was suspended.

Writer Gökhan Yavuzel acquitted of “inciting the public to hatred and enmity"

The fifth hearing in the trial of International Writers' Union (PEN) member writer Gökhan Yavuzel, on the charge of “inciting people to hatred and enmity” over his article titled “The relationship between art and power” published on Gazete Davul's website on 31 January 2021, was held at the Şanlıurfa 4th Criminal Court of First Instance on 26 February 2025.

Yavuzel did not attend the hearing while his lawyer Muhammed Ünsal attended the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from the İstanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance.

After the prosecutor repeated their fina opinion on the case and asked for a sentence, lawyer Ünsal said, “The client is a journalist who writes about culture and arts. As a journalist, he benefits from the extended freedom of expression. The column in question is an expression of thought within the scope of freedom of expression. We demand a verdict of acquittal.”

The court acquitted writer Gökhan Yavuzel.

Abdullah Kaya's trial adjourned until June

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Abdullah Kaya on the charge of “unlawfully obtaining or disseminating personal data” over his news report about village guards going to the polls in Ağrı with long-barreled weapons to vote in the 2023 General Elections was held at the Diyadin Criminal Court of First Instance on 26 February 2025.

Kaya and his lawyer were present at the hearing.

Kaya stated that he was a journalist and that his news report did not constitute a crime.

The court decided to examine Kaya's press card and adjourned the trial until 18 June 2025.

Sedef Kabaş's trial for “insulting the president” adjourned until June

The sixth hearing in the trial of journalist Sedef Kabaş on the charge of “insulting the president” over her social media posts was held at the Anadolu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 25 February 2025.

Sedef Kabaş's lawyer Selen Sınmaz attended the hearing.

The court decided to wait for the finalization of the verdicts in these cases, stating that the case file against Kabaş is related to the cases in the İstanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance and Anadolu 7th Criminal Court of First Instance.

The trial was adjourned until 19 June 2025.

Case file sent to expert in Sultan Eylem Keleş's case

The ninth hearing in the trial of journalist Sultan Eylem Keleş and four others for “insulting a public official” and “resisting to prevent the execution of duty” after being detained while covering the protest of BIMEKS workers was held at the İstanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 25 February 2025.

Keleş did not attend the hearing while his lawyer Hazal Sümeli was present.

The court decided to send the case to an expert to examine the footage of the incident and adjourned the trial until 1 July 2025.

Levent Gültekin acquitted of “insulting the president"

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Levent Gültekin on the charge of “insulting the president” over a speech he made in a program on Halk TV was held at the İstanbul 49th Criminal Court of First Instance on 25 February 2025.

Gültekin's lawyer Yağmur Yaşar was present at the hearing, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's lawyer excused himself and did not attend.

Gültekin said, “I made a philosophical statement about the speeches made by Mr. President from time to time that religion cannot give morality to people. A sentence from this philosophical comment I made was perceived as insulting the president. I am a journalist, not a politician. We have the right to harsh criticism in line with our journalist identity. I do not intend to insult, I demand my acquittal.”

Lawyer Yaşar said, “The statements in question should be evaluated within the scope of criticism. Considering the client's profession as a journalist, we demand his acquittal.”

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, stated that Gültekin's statements could not be considered within the scope of the offense of insult and demanded his acquittal since the legal elements of the crime did not form.

The court acquitted Levent Gültekin on the grounds that the legal elements of the crime did not form and it was not established that he acted with criminal intent.

Barış Terkoğlu's trial for “insulting a public official” adjourned until June

The seventh hearing in the trial of journalist Barış Terkoğlu on the charge of “insulting a public official” upon the complaint of former İstanbul Regional Court of Appeals Chief Public Prosecutor Hadi Salihoğlu over an article published in Cumhuriyet newspaper was held at the İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 25 February 2025.

The court adjourned the trial until 19 June 2025, deciding to wait for the outcome of the decision of the 5th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation against Salihoğlu, which was heard by the Court of Cassation as a court of first instance, and to inquire about its fate.

Journalist Evrim Kepenek acquitted of “spreading false information”

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Evrim Kepenek on the charge of “spreading false information” over her earthquake posts was held at the İstanbul 13th Criminal Court of First Instance on 24 February 2025.

Evrim Kepenek and her lawyer Deniz Yazgan Şenay were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

Presenting their final opinion on the case, the prosecutor asked for Kepenek's acquittal as it was understood that she did not have the intent to commit a crime as the post, the defendant's statement, open-source research and the entire file scope were evaluated together.

Kepenek and his lawyer stated that they agreed with the prosecutor's opinion and reiterated their demand for acquittal.

The court acquitted Kepenek as there was no evidence of criminal intent.

In a post on her social media account after the earthquakes on 6 February 2023, which caused severe destruction in 11 provinces, Kepenek wrote: “Gendarmerie teams confiscated aid tents in Pazarcık, Maraş, and said ‘all aid will be provided through AFAD.’ Update: Many aid tents in the area were confiscated.” On 15 February 2023, following this post, Pazar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against Kepenek. However, since Kepenek's residence address was in İstanbul, the file was sent to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with a decision of lack of jurisdiction.

The indictment filed by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states that the information does not need to actually disrupt public peace for the crime to occur and that it is sufficient for the crime to be “suitable for disruption.”

At least 39 journalists and media workers in prison

As of 28 February 2025, there are at least 39 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either in pre-trial detention or serving a sentence.

The full list can be accessed here.