Satirical magazine LeMan's Aslan Özdemir jailed; 4 journalists released pending trial; 2 journalists given jail term in 2 cases; indictment filed against Fatih Altaylı

Satirical magazine LeMan's Managing Editor Aslan Özdemir jailed

Aslan Özdemir, one of the managing editors of satirical magazine LeMan, was imprisoned pending trial on the charge of "inciting the people to hatred and hostiliy” on 13 July 2025. Özdemir was detained at the airport on 11 July upon his return to Turkey from abroad.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation into LeMan magazine on its own initiative on the charge of “denigrating religious values” over a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

The magazine, however, had denied the cartoon was a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad and denounced claims to that effect as "malicious." In a statement posted on X, LeMan apologized to “well-intentioned readers who may have felt hurt” but added that the cartoon was intended to highlight the suffering of oppressed Muslims, specifically referencing victims of Israeli attacks. “The cartoonist wanted to portray the righteousness of oppressed Muslims by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel, and he never intended to insult religious values,” the magazine said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denounced LeMan on 1 July, calling the cartoon a “disrespect” that is “absolutely unacceptable.” “What has been done under the guise of satire is clearly an incitement, a vile provocation,” he said. “Those who act arrogantly will be held accountable before the law. We will not allow anyone to insult our sacred values.”

As part of the investigation, the magazine's editor-in-chief Zafer Aknar, graphic designer Cebrail Okçu, and the director of the institution Ali Yavuz were imprisoned pending trial for "inciting the people to hatred and hostility," the owner of the cartoon Doğan Pehlevan was imprisoned pending trial for "inciting the people to hatred and hostility" and "insulting the president" on 2 July 2025.

Four journalists jailed as part of the Artvin-based investigation released

Journalists Dicle Baştürk, Yavuz Akengin, Eylem Emel Yılmaz, and Ozan Cırık were released pending trial on 16 July 2025 because of a monthly review of their detention.

Four journalists who were among seven individuals detained in house raids on 13 June as part of an Artvin-based investigation were jailed three days later on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization."

Journalists Yavuz Akengin, Eylem Yılmaz, Dicle Baştürk, and Sendika.org employee Ozan Cırık were arrested along with journalist Semra Pelek, translator Melisa Efe, and another individual. All were transferred to the Black Sea province of Artvin for questioning. Police also raided the home of another journalist, Metin Yoksu, who was not taken into custody as he was not at home during the raid, but sent to pre-trial detention on 26 June 2025.

Indictment filed against Fatih Altaylı for “threatening the president”

An indictment has been filed against journalist Fatih Altaylı on the charge of “threatening the president” in conjunction with "threat" over comments he made on his YouTube channel. The offense in question stipulates at least five years in prison since the crime is committed against the president.



Altaylı was detained on 21 June after being targeted by Presidential Advisor Oktay Saral on social media, and was sent to pre-trial detention by the İstanbul 10th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on 22 June. The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in its statement alleged that Altaylı had “targeted President Erdoğan with threatening remarks” during his YouTube program broadcast on 20 June. The statement had read, “An investigation has been initiated ex officio against Altaylı on the charges of threatening the president, and the aforementioned individual was detained in accordance with instructions given to the İstanbul Police Department.”



In his statement at the courthouse, Altaylı had said the following: "I had no intention of threatening or insulting the president. In the broadcast, I reported that, according to a poll, the majority of the public did not approve of the president remaining in office for life. I referred to the Turkish people's tradition of criticizing their rulers throughout history. These comments were made from a historical perspective and in line with my intellectual identity.”

DEM Party MP Sevilay Çelenk submits motion to Parliament for an investigation into press freedom

DEM Party Diyarbakır MP and Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Digital Media Commission Sevilay Çelenk submitted a motion for investigation to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on 16 July, calling for a comprehensive inquiry into the increasing pressure on journalists, censorship in the media, and human rights violations.

Emphasizing that freedom of expression and the press are under serious threat, Çelenk said, “Press freedom is the guarantee of social peace.”

"Freedom of the press and expression is not only the common guarantee of journalists, but of the whole society. In these days when the hope for social peace is blossoming, the most important way to turn this hope into reality is to remove all obstacles to press and freedom of expression,” Çelenk remarked and called on the TBMM to take immediate structural steps to ensure press freedom so that journalism can fulfill its public oversight function and citizens' right to information can be protected.

Two of the three journalists on trial in İzmir acquitted, one handed jail term

The second hearings in the trials of journalists Melike Aydın, Tolga Güney, and Delal Akyüz, who are charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” were held at the İzmir 13th High Criminal Court on 18 July 2025.

The first hearing was for Aydın's case. Aydın and her lawyer Şükran Öztürk requested acquittal. The court ruled for acquittal due to insufficient evidence.

Immediately after Aydın's case, the hearing for Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Tolga Güney was held. Aydın's lawyer, Fatma Demirer, requested acquittal. The court ruled to acquit due to insufficient evidence.

Finally, Delal Akyüz's hearing was held. Güney's lawyer, Hazal Sümeli, requested acquittal. The court sentenced Akyüz to 6 years and 3 months in prison for the impugned crime.

Sultan Eylem Keleş handed jail term

The 11th hearing in the trial of journalist Sultan Eylem Keleş, who was detained while covering the protest of dismissed BİMEKS workers, and four other defendants on charges of “insulting a public official” and “resisting police to prevent the execution of duty,” was held at the İstanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 17 July 2025.

Keleş did not attend the hearing, but her lawyer, Batıkan Erkoç, was present.

Erkoç, presenting the defense against the prosecutor’s final opinion on the case, said, "My client is a journalist. She was detained while following a press statement to do her job. The indictment and the opinion do not specify which action constitutes the crime of resistance. There is no concrete identification in the expert report either. We request that my client be acquitted of all charges as the elements of the alleged crime did not form."

The court acquitted Keleş and the other defendants of the charge of “insulting a public official” but sentenced them to 8 months and 10 days in prison for the charge of “resisting police to prevent the execution of duty.” The sentence was deferred.

At least 30 journalists and media workers in prison

Following the release of four journalists, and imprisonment of LeMan’s Aslan Özdemir, as of 18 July 2025, there are at least 30 journalists and media workers in pre-trial detention or imprisonment in Turkey.

The full list can be accessed here.