Elif Akgül released pending trial; Tuğçe Yılmaz briefly detained; indictment filed against 7 journalists for “releasing of sound or images during investigative proceedings”

Seven journalists indicted for recording protests during Kobane Trial hearing

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment against seven journalists for filming protests with their mobile phones during the final hearing of the "Kobane Trial" on 16 May 2024.

The indictment, brought under the charge of “unauthorized recording or dissemination of audio or images during judicial proceedings," was accepted by the Ankara Western 14th Court of First Instance. It stems from a criminal complaint submitted by the Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court, which oversaw the Kobane Trial.

The journalists named in the indictment are Damla Kırmızıtaş, Derya Okatan Albayrak, Fatih Polat, Fırat Can Arslan, Handan Ceren Bayar, Hüseyin Hayatsever, and Kaan Can Bircan.

The Kobane Trial, one of the most politically significant mass trials in recent years, involved 108 defendants, including senior members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) accused of inciting violence during the 2014 protests in solidarity with the Kurdish-majority Syrian town of Kobane under ISIS siege. The trial drew widespread public and international attention, with many critics viewing it as a politically motivated effort to criminalize opposition figures and suppress dissent.

The journalists were reportedly covering reactions and demonstrations in the courtroom on the final day of the trial, which concluded with harsh sentences for several defendants.

Bianet editor Tuğçe Yılmaz briefly detained

Bianet editor Tuğçe Yılmaz was detained on 3 June following a routine police ID check in Istanbul's Kadıköy district. 

She was released the following day after giving a statement to the prosecutor.

According to Bianet, Yılmaz’s detention was linked to an article published on the anniversary of the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in Anatolia. The piece featured interviews with two young Turkish Armenians about their experiences living in Turkey and their perspectives on the Armenian Genocide. Authorities had reportedly launched an investigation into the article, which recently led to a court case against Yılmaz on the charge of “insulting the Turkish nation, the Republic of Turkey, and state institutions and organs.”

Yılmaz was unaware of both the investigation and the court case prior to her detention.

Investigation launched against MA reporter Yeşim Tükel

An investigation has been launched against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Yeşim Tükel and others who participated in the distribution of the Atılım newspaper in the Kadıköy district of İstanbul on 31 January 2025 in solidarity with the newspaper.

The investigation, launched by the İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on the charge of “insulting the president” (TCK 299), was based on the phrase “fascist leader Erdoğan” appearing in the newspaper.

Tükel gave a statement at the İstanbul Provincial Security Directorate on 3 June 2025 as part of the investigation.

Metin Gürcan sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison

The final hearing in the trial of columnist and DEVA Party founding member Metin Gürcan, who was charged with “obtaining information that should remain confidential to the state for political or military espionage purposes,” was held at the Ankara 26th High Criminal Court on 2 June 2025.

Gürcan was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison for the impugned crime and transferred to Sincan No. 2 L-Type Closed Prison.

As part of the legal proceedings initiated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in 2021 on “espionage” charges, Gürcan was first detained in İstanbul on 26 November 2021. Following interrogations by the police and the prosecutor's office, he was referred to the Ankara 6th Criminal Court of Peace on 29 November 2021, and imprisoned pending trial on the charge of “obtaining information that should remain confidential to the state for political or military espionage purposes” and sent to prison. 

Elif Akgül released pending trial

Journalist Elif Akgül, who was imprisoned pending trial on 22 February 2025 on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of the investigation launched into the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), was released from Bakırköy Prison on 2 June after her indictment was accepted.

Fifty-three people were detained on 18 February as part of an investigation conducted by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the HDK. Journalists Yıldız Tar, Elif Akgül, Ender İmrek, and Ercüment Akdeniz, musician Pınar Aydınlar, painter Taner Güven, and screenwriter Ayşe Bengi were among those detained.

The detainees were brought to the İstanbul Courthouse on  21 February. The prosecutor's office requested the imprisonment of 35 of the 53 detainees, while requesting judicial control measures in the form of “not leaving their homes” for 13 individuals, and “signing in at the police station and a ban on leaving the country” for two individuals. Of the 53 individuals referred to the court, 30 were imprisoned pending trial. Among those jailed were journalists Elif Akgül, Yıldız Tar, Ercüment Akdeniz, and artist Pınar Aydınlar.

At least 28 journalists and media workers in prison

Following the release of journalist Elif Akgül, as of 6 June 2025, there are at least 28 journalists and media workers in pre-trial detention or imprisonment in Turkey.

The full list can be accessed here.