Two imprisoned journalists released pending trial; five press workers detained in house raids; arrest warrant issued for owner of opposition channel Halk TV

Five press workers detained in house raids

Journalists Eylem Yılmaz, Semra Pelek, Dicle Baştürk, sendika.org employee Ozan Cırık, and Melisa Efe, who works as a translator for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, were detained on 13 June after their homes were raided as part of an Artvin-based investigation. The detained journalists and translator Efe will be sent to Artvin.

Due to a confidentiality order on the case, the reason for the detention is not yet known.

In addition, the home of journalist Metin Yoksu was raided in connection with another case. Yoksu was not detained because he was not at home.

Arrest warrant issued for owner of opposition channel Halk TV

An İstanbul court has issued an arrest warrant for Cafer Mahiroğlu, chairman of the Board of Directors of the opposition broadcaster Halk TV, as part of an ongoing investigation led by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The warrant, issued by the İstanbul Criminal Judgeship of Peace on Duty, is based on testimony provided by Aziz İhsan Aktaş and includes charges of “rigging a public tender."

Mahiroğlu rejected the allegations in a statement shared on his social media account. "I am being accused based on fabricated false statements and slander by someone I have never met or seen in my life," he said.

Aktaş, who had previously been arrested in connection with investigations targeting the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), was jailed pending trial charges of founding and leading a criminal organization. He was released on 4 June after cooperating with authorities under the “effective repentance” law, which allows for reduced sentences or release in exchange for testimony or cooperation.

Access to Erk Acarer's social media accounts blocked

An order has been issued to block access to journalist Erk Acarer's YouTube channel, X account, and Instagram accounts on the grounds of “protecting national security and public order.”

The X and Instagram accounts have been made invisible in Turkey. YouTube has not yet implemented the decision.

Ece Üner's international travel ban lifted

The first hearing in the trial of Halk TV news anchor Ece Üner, who was charged with “publicly denigrating the state's judicial organs” and “attempting to influence a fair trial” over a social media post, was held at the İstanbul 19th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 June 2025.

The court lifted the international travel ban on Üner and adjourned the trial until 19 September 2025.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had initiated an investigation on its own initiative regarding Üner's statement, “The reputation assassination attempts by the remnants of the FETÖ operation have become unbearable,” which she used in response to a post by journalist İsmail Saymaz on X, where Saymaz stated that Üner's passport had been seized and an international travel ban had been imposed on her.

Imprisoned journalist Reyhan Hacıoğlu released pending trial

The first hearing in the trial of imprisoned journalist Reyhan Hacıoğlu, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Van 2nd High Criminal Court on 13 June 2025.

Hacıoğlu and her lawyer Jiyan Özkaplan were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

Hacıoğlu began her defense by stating that she had been working as a journalist for two years, saying, "Only 10 of the programs I have done over the past three years have been processed. I have done dozens of programs, but the indictment focuses on issues related to the Kurdish question, Abdullah Öcalan, and isolation. However, I did not only report on these issues. I reported on many issues, from ecology to women's rights. I reported on the millions of people in this country who are starving, on poverty, and on what the war has cost this country. But the prosecutor has only selected a few words.”

Hacıoğlu's lawyer, Jiyan Özkaplan, stated that her client was being tried for his journalistic activities and requested her release.

The prosecutor requested that Hacıoğlu remain in custody.

Hacıoğlu and her lawyer Özkaplan reiterated their request for release, stating that other journalists on trial in the investigation had been released and that there was no suspicion of evidence tampering or flight risk.

The court, which decided to release Hacıoğlu with a ban on leaving the country, adjourned the trial until 9 October 2025.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Rahime Karvar released pending trial

The first hearing in the trial of imprisoned journalist Rahime Karvar, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court on 12 June 2025.

Karvar and her lawyers Elif Taşdöğen and Serhat Çakmak were present at the hearing ,which was monitored by P24.

Karvar in her defense statement denied the charges. "As an example of the pressure on press workers, I am appearing before the judge for the first time today after five months in detention. The prosecutor wants press workers to carry out the public relations activities of state institutions. This is contrary to the principles of journalism. I am defending my journalistic activities, which are presented as evidence of a crime in the indictment,“ Karvar said.

The prosecutor requested that Karvar be kept in pre-trial detention.

Karvar's lawyer, Elif Taşdöğen, said, “The indictment is the same as the police report. The prosecutor’s office filed a copy-paste indictment. My client is a program host at Güncel Production. She cannot be held responsible for the words of the guests who participated in the program," and requested her release.

Karvar's lawyer Serhat Çakmak requested his client's release, stating that there was no evidence to warrant suspicion of flight.

The court decided to release Karvar with a travel ban abroad. The trial was adjourned until 17 July 2025.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Burhan Ekinci's trial adjourned until November

The 13th hearing in the trial of journalist Burhan Ekinci on the charge of “terrorism propaganda” over his social media posts was held at the İstanbul 30th High Criminal Court on 11 June 2025.

No one attended the hearing.

The court decided to await the execution of the arrest warrant issued against Ekinci and adjourned the trial until 25 November 2025.

Trial of singer Ferhat Tunç adjourned until November

The 16th hearing in the trial of singer Ferhat Tunç on the charge of “terrorism propaganda” was held at the İstanbul 37th High Criminal Court on 10 June 2025.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was adjourned until 7 November 2025.

Trial of Rüstem Batum adjourned until November

The eighth hearing in the trial of journalist Rüstem Batum on the charge of “insulting the president” was held at the İstanbul 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 10 June 2025.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was adjourned until 25 November 2025.

At least 27 journalists and media workers in prison

Following the release of journalists Reyhan Hacıoğlu and Rahime Karvar, as of 13 June 2025, there are at least 27 journalists and media workers in pre-trial detention or imprisonment in Turkey.

The full list can be accessed here.