Ayşe Barım, released after 248 days, to be re-arrested 24 hours later; Fatih Altaylı's detention extended; NTV fires US representative Hüseyin Günay; Ergün Poyraz jailed

Manager Ayşe Barım released after 248 days, only to be re-arrested 24 hours later

The second hearing in the case in which actor agent Ayşe Barım is being tried in custody on the charge of “attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey” was held at the İstanbul 26th High Criminal Court on 1 October 2025.

Barım and her lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

Barım, who made a statement regarding her detention, requested her release, citing serious health problems.

The prosecutor requested that her detention continue, citing the current state of evidence and the fact that the crime she was charged with was a catalog crime.

The court decided to release Barım, citing her health problems as grounds, with judicial control measures prohibiting her from leaving her residence and traveling abroad. The case was adjourned until 11 February 2026.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appealed Barım's release decision. The İstanbul 26th High Criminal Court panel, which evaluated the appeal, upheld the release decision. Upon this, the prosecutor's appeal request was sent to the İstanbul 27th High Criminal Court, a higher court, on 2 October. The İstanbul 27th High Criminal Court accepted the prosecutor's appeal on the same day and decided to re-arrest Barım.

Fatih Altaylı's detention continues

The first hearing in the case in which journalist Fatih Altaylı is being tried in custody on charges of “threatening the president” (TCK 310) was at the İstanbul 26th High Criminal Court in the courtrooms opposite the Marmara Closed Penal Institution in Silivri on 3 October 2025.

Altaylı and his lawyers were present at the hearing.

In his defense, Altaylı said that being tried on charges of threatening the president surprised and upset him. Denying the charges against him, Altaylı said, "Can recounting yesterday's darkness to show the value of today's light be a threat? If you find my request for acquittal justified today, I will continue to fight for the future of children and young people.”

The prosecutor requested that Altaylı remain in detention. The court decided to continue Altaylı's detention on the grounds of flight risk and that detention was “proportionate."

The trial was adjourned until 26 November 2025.

NTV fires US correspondent Hüseyin Günay

Hüseyin Günay, NTV's Washington D.C. correspondent, was fired for comments he made in the White House garden while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump were meeting in the Oval Office.

Günay's conversation with a colleague in the White House garden during the Netanyahu-Trump meeting was caught on camera by Associated Press (AP) during a live broadcast.

In the conversation that led to his dismissal, Günay said that the meeting between Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not go well for Turkey and explained that the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey was conditional on Turkey stopping its purchase of natural gas from Russia. Günay then brought up Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's statement that the engines needed for the domestically produced KAAN fighter jet would be imported from the US and that congressional approval was pending, saying, "They are playing with Hakan Fidan... He let slip about the aircraft engines, nobody knew... There is a fight going on inside between Bilal (Erdoğan), Hakan Fidan, and the son-in-law."

TMSF put it up for sale: 150 people left jobless at Flash Haber TV

All employees were laid off at Flash Haber TV, which was put up for sale by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).

Hakan Hastaoğlu, the manager appointed by TMSF, gathered the employees at the channel's building on 26 September. In his statement there, Hastaoğlu said, “There is no money left, so everyone's employment contract is terminated as of now.”

Approximately 150 employees were laid off because of this decision.

Following the decision, it was learned that only a team of 3-4 people working in the main control room remained at Flash Haber TV. It was stated that this team would be responsible for ensuring the continuation of broadcasts on the channel.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had issued arrest warrants for Flash TV owner Erkan Kork and 58 other people on charges of leading an illegal betting organization. A decision was also made to seize the companies owned by Kork, including Flash TV, Bank Pozitif, and Payfix, and these companies were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).

Author Ergün Poyraz jailed

Author Ergün Poyraz was jailed for sharing photos of the home of Aydın Metropolitan Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu on social media.

Following a criminal complaint filed by Çerçioğlu's lawyers, police went to Poyraz's home early in the morning on 2 October 2025, and detained the writer on charges of “unlawfully obtaining and disseminating personal data.” Poyraz posted on his social media account, "They have just taken me into custody from my home. I am being taken to the police station. And they are not telling me why they are arresting me."

After being processed at the police station, Poyraz was taken to the courthouse, where he was imprisoned pending trial by the Duty Magistrate's Court.

A lawsuit and investigation into journalist Aslıhan Gençay's report on the Falyalı tapes

A lawsuit has been filed against journalist Aslıhan Gençay for the article titled “Names on Falyalı's Tapes,” published on P24 on 24 April 2025, and removed from publication due to an access block order, on the suspicion of “insult.” Furthermore, an investigation has been opened on the charge of “spreading false information.”

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation against Gençay following a criminal complaint by Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin. After completing the investigation, the prosecutor's office drafted an indictment against Gençay on the charge of “insult via audio, written, or visual communication.” Minister of National Education Tekin was listed as the plaintiff in the indictment. The indictment was accepted by the Ankara 78th Criminal Court of First Instance. The first hearing in the case will be held on 22 January 2026.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also launched an investigation against Gençay for “spreading false information” over the same news story that was removed from publication due to an access block decision.

Four cameramen left Halk TV due to low wages

Cameramen Murat Kibar, Gencer Keten, Yusuf Çakmak, and Özgür Keser, who refused to accept low wages at Halk TV, announced their departure.

Announcing their resignation in a written statement, the cameramen pointed to increasing economic difficulties, saying they were forced to leave their jobs because they were not getting their due and conditions were not improving. The statement said, “We were forced to leave our jobs because we did not accept the poverty wages imposed by the boss.”

In a statement made by DİSK Basın-İş on the matter, it was stated, "Press workers want the reward for their sweat. However, the bosses are trying to discipline our colleagues with insecurity and poverty. Press workers are not slaves. It is our right to live and work humanely! We have no choice but to organize and fight against insecurity and poverty. We are here, side by side!"

Journalist Evren Demirdaş attacked

Sözcü newspaper's Elazığ Representative Evren Demirdaş was attacked by three people on 1 October 2025, after covering the Elazığ Municipality Council Meeting. Demirdaş's nose was broken in the attack. As part of the investigation launched after the attack, the three assailants were taken into custody.

In a statement regarding the attack, the Southeast Journalists Association (GGC) said that Demirdaş was attacked after receiving various threats. The statement emphasized that the attack was not only directed at a journalist but was a direct threat to freedom of expression and the press: "Unfortunately, incidents of violence against members of the press have continued to increase in recent years. Impunity for these attacks paves the way for new attacks and threatens the safety of journalists. Therefore, it is of utmost importance not only to apprehend the perpetrators, but also to investigate the incident in the most comprehensive manner possible and to expose the mentality behind it."

Journalist Murat Verim released

Journalist Murat Verim was released from Erzurum Type H High Security Prison, where he was being held, on 2 October 2025, upon completion of his sentence.

Verim, a reporter for the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was shut down in 2016, and who worked in the Press and Public Relations Department of the Dargeçit District Municipality in Mardin until a trustee was appointed in March 2016, was sent to prison in January 2023 on the grounds of news notes and press releases.

Verim, who was held in prison for 16 months as part of a case filed at the Midyat High Criminal Court, was released on 5 April 2024. Verim was jailed again on 15 September 2024, after the sentence against him was upheld.

Journalist Furkan Karabay acquitted twice and fined once in a case where he was detained for 9 days

The second hearing in the case against journalist Furkan Karabay on charges of “disclosing the names of public officials involved in the fight against terrorism,” “insulting a public official,” and “spreading false information” over his news reports and posts regarding the investigation of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, was held at the İstanbul 22nd High Criminal Court on 2 October 2025.

Karabay, who was jailed on 15 May in connection with another case, was brought to the hearing from Marmara Prison, accompanied by gendarmes. Karabay's lawyers were also present in the courtroom.

The hearing, monitored by P24, was observed by a large number of people, including Özgür Öğret, Turkey Representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

At the first hearing on 27 May, the prosecutor presented their final opinion on the case and requested that Karabay be punished on all three charges.

Karabay, presenting his defense against the charges, said, “My purpose in coming to this hearing was both to get a change of scenery and to see my friends. Your decision will have no effect.”

Karabay's lawyers requested acquittal, stating that the elements of the alleged crime had not formed.

The court ruled to acquit Karabay on the grounds that the legal elements of the crimes of “disclosing the names of public officials involved in the fight against terrorism,” “spreading false information,” and “insulting a public official” against Şaban Yılmaz were not present. However, the court fined Karabay TL 42,500 for “insulting” Akın Gürlek and deferred the sentence.

Appeal files of 11 journalists in Ankara sent back to court of first instance

The Ankara Regional Court of Appeals returned the appeal files of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Diren Yurtsever, Berivan Altan, Selman Güzelyüz, Hakan Yalçın, Emrullah Acar, Ceylan Şahinli, Zemo Ağgöz, and Deniz Nazlım, JinNews reporters Habibe Eren and Öznur Değer, and MA's former intern Mehmet Günhan, who are being tried on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization,” determined that there were deficiencies preventing the appeal review. The court found that the indictment, detention, arrest, and statement records were not included in the case file and ruled that the trial could not be reviewed in its current state.

In its unanimous decision dated 23 September, the court noted that the case could be resubmitted for appeal review once the deficiencies were remedied.

Journalist Elif Akgül appears before the judge

The first hearing in the case against journalist Elif Akgül, charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the İstanbul 25th High Criminal Court on 30 September 2025.

Akgül and her lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24. The hearing was observed by a large number of people, including Erol Önderoğlu, Turkey representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

After her identity was verified, Akgül presented her defense, denying the charges against her and stating that she was not a member of any terrorist organization. She requested that the ban on her leaving the country be lifted and that she be acquitted.

The prosecutor, who requested that the file be sent to the parties for the submission of the final opinion on the case, requested that the ban on leaving the country continue on the grounds that it was “proportionate.”

The court, which decided to continue the judicial control measure, accepted the request for the return of the imaged digital materials.

The court decided to send the case file to the prosecutor's office for the final opinion on the case to be filed. The trial was adjourned until 4 December.

Travel bans lifted for 7 journalists tried for wanting to commemorate their murdered colleagues

The fourth hearing in the case against journalists Can Papila, Gülistan Dursun, Serpil Ünal, Hayri Tunç, Enes Sezgin, Osman Akın, and Pınar Gayıp on charges of “terrorism propaganda and “violating the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.” was held at the İstanbul 24th High Criminal Court on 2 October 2025.

The journalists did not attend the hearing, but their lawyers were present.

Repeating their final opinion they presented at the 10 July hearing, the prosecutor requested that Papila, Dursun, Ünal, Tunç, Sezgin, Akın, and Gayıp be punished separately for each of the two charges.

Defense lawyers, arguing against the opinion, stated that during the press conference held in Şişhane on 21 December 2024, the journalists were surrounded and kept waiting for hours, and that they did not chant slogans, so the elements of the crime of propaganda had not formed.

The lawyers also stated that the decision prohibiting journalists and politicians from taking action had not been notified to them, that they had been surrounded by police before the press statement was made, and therefore their clients had not violated Law No. 2911.

The lawyers stated that there was no final conviction for journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin for “membership in a terrorist organization,” that the presumption of innocence of the two journalists had been violated, and that carrying the photos of the murdered journalists did not constitute the crime of “terrorism propaganda.”

The court ruled that the lawyers who did not present a defense against the prosecutor’s opinion on the case should be present at the next hearing and that the ban on leaving the country for all defendants should be lifted.

The trial was adjourned until 4 November 2025.

At least 28 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 3 October 2025, there are at least 28 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.