Prosecutor demands sentencing for Mehmet Kamış in Zaman newspaper case; new investigation filed against Fatih Altaylı; armed attack on Evrensel newspaper

Prosecutor demands sentencing for Mehmet Kamış in Zaman newspaper case

The prosecutor has submitted their final opinion the case for journalists Mehmet Kamış and Ali Çolak, who are charged with “attempting to abolish or prevent the Turkish Grand National Assembly from performing its duties,” “attempting to abolish or prevent the Government of the Republic of Turkey from performing its duties,” “attempting to abolish the constitutional order,” and “membership in a terrorist organization.”

In their final opinion on the case filed on 13 August, the prosecutor requested that Ali Çolak and Mehmet Kamış be acquitted separately of the charges of “attempting to abolish the Grand National Assembly of Turkey” and “attempting to abolish the government,” and that Çolak be acquitted of the charge of “membership in an organization,” while Kamış be punished.

The next hearing in the case will be held at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Cour on 23 September 2025.

Now-defunct Zaman daily’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Kamış and its editor for arts and culture desk Ali Çolak were among the defendants in the trial publicly known as “Altan case.” The case file of Kamış, Çolak and eight other defendants against whom detention warrants were issued had been separated on 19 September 2017. Journalist Kamış against whom a detention warrant had been issued was detained in İzmir on 22 November 2023. Kamış was sent to İstanbul 26th High Criminal Court on 23 November 2023 and subsequently imprisoned pending trial over “suspicion that he could flee.” Journalist Çolak against whom a detention warrant had been issued surrendered himself on 9 July 2024 and he was sent to pre-trial detention on the same day. Both journalists were released pending trial on 25 July 2024. However, Kamış was jailed again on 11 July 2025.

New investigation filed against Fatih Altaylı

A new investigation has been launched against journalist Fatih Altaylı, who is in pre-trial detention on the charge of “threatening the president.”

Halk TV writer İsmail Saymaz announced that a second investigation had been opened against Fatih Altaylı on the charge of “spreading false information” over a broadcast that led to a court decision to block access to his YouTube channel.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Counter-Terrorism Bureau had requested a ban on access to the broadcast dated 5 August, alleging that it posed a threat to “national security” and “public order.” The İstanbul 6th Criminal Court of Peace ruled to block access to the channel and to remove the content, even though the prosecutor's office had not requested this. Altaylı's lawyers appealed the ruling, and YouTube has not yet taken any action regarding the court order.

Altaylı, who has been in prison since 22 June, sends a letter every weekday to be read on his YouTube channel. In his letter dated 5 August, Altaylı said that MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli sent a poem by Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, saying that there was “more understanding between them than people think.”

Armed attack on Evrensel newspaper

An armed attack was carried out on the İzmir office of Evrensel newspaper late at night on 12 August.

The attack took place when the office was empty. The attacker fired shots at the building's sign. Ten bullet holes were found in the door and sign. The bullets hit the exterior of the building and, in particular, the newspaper's sign.

The attacker was taken into custody on 13 August. One day later, he was released under judicial control measure.

At least 32 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 15 August 2025, there are at least 32 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either in pre-trial detention or serving a finalized sentence.

The full list can be accessed here.