Top court annuls BİK's authority to impose penalties; journalist Hakan Tosun killed in İstanbul; two İHA reporters detained; journalist reports she and colleague received threats

Top court annuls Press Advertising Agency's authority to impose penalties

The Constitutional Court (AYM) has ruled that the Press Advertising Agency’s (BİK) authority to impose penalties by withholding official announcements and advertisements from newspapers, magazines, and online news outlets is unconstitutional.

The annulled regulation had allowed BİK to suspend advertisements and announcements for up to two months for “publications that do not comply with the law, regulations, decisions of the Institution’s General Assembly, or press ethics principles.”

In its review of the application filed by the Bakırköy 9th Civil Court of First Instance, the Constitutional Court found that the regulation did not clearly define which acts warranted such penalties. The ruling stated, “The framework of acts warranting the penalty of suspension of advertisements and announcements has not been outlined, and the rule lacks clarity and certainty.”

The Court also emphasized that the institution had been granted overly broad and undefined powers to impose sanctions: “The institution has been given general and unlimited authority without defining the framework for which actions and transactions will be sanctioned, for how long, and to what extent, in relation to newspapers, magazines, and websites.”

The revocation is significant beyond its legal implications, as BİK has long been criticized for using its authority arbitrarily to financially penalize independent and investigative media outlets critical of the government.

BİK revoked Evrensel newspaper’s right to publish public advertisements in 2022 and Yeni Asya newspaper’s right in 2020. Evrensel’s legal complaint was rejected, and its appeal was dismissed by the Constitutional Court in 2024. In 2025, BİK also suspended the right of eight local newspapers in Mersin to publish official announcements indefinitely.

Click here to read our article on how BİK’s decisions affect local media.

Calls for justice after environmental journalist Hakan Tosun killed in İstanbul

Journalist and activist Hakan Tosun, who was assaulted by two individuals in İstanbul’s Esenyurt district, passed away in the hospital on 13 October following a brain hemorrhage.

Two suspects believed to be involved in the attack were arrested and imprisoned pending trial on charges of “intentional injury.” However, the motive behind the assault remains unclear.

Tosun, a tireless advocate for environmental rights, documented cases of ecological destruction across Turkey. P24 collaborated with him several times on reports and video stories for Gezegen, our climate and ecology platform, focusing on environmental struggles and local resistance movements. Colleagues remember Tosun as a devoted videojournalist, kind, humble, hard-working, and deeply committed to his craft.

Tosun’s lawyer, Onur Cingil, stated that journalist Umut Taştan, who went to the scene to interview residents and shopkeepers for the broadcaster Halk TV, was later threatened by relatives of the assailants.

Tosun was reportedly found unconscious on the roadside after being struck on the head. According to the official statement, he was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state, but his family could not be reached for 27 hours because he was not carrying any identification. His killing has sparked outrage among journalists and civil society groups, who are calling for a thorough investigation given his work exposing environmental crimes committed by powerful corporations.

Journalist Roni Rubar İmen briefly detained

Roni Rubar İmen, a reporter for Ajansa Welat (AW), who was detained on 10 October on allegations of a tip-off, was released after giving a statement.

İmen, who was detained in the Cizre district of Şırnak while traveling to the Federal Kurdistan Region to follow up on a story, was beaten.

After completing police procedures, İmen was transferred to the Şırnak Courthouse.

After giving a statement to the prosecutor's office, İmen was referred to the Şırnak Criminal Court of Peace with a request for detention. İmen was released by the Criminal Court of Peace on condition of “judicial control.”

Özgür Gelecek reporter Yusuf Çelik detained

Özgür Gelecek reporter Yusuf Çelik was detained on 14 October and taken the police station on the grounds that he did not appear for questioning, even though there was no official notification and the hearing date was still days away.

Çelik was questioned about his journalistic activities.

Çelik was released after the interrogation was completed.

Reporter jailed over story on Governor, colleague covering case also detained

Sebahattin Yum, a reporter for the nationwide İhlas News Agency (İHA) in the northeastern province of Iğdır, was detained on 14 October 2025 over a report that criticized the city’s governor. The report, titled “Umbrella for the Governor but not for veterans,” described how, during an official ceremony on 19 September marking Veterans Day, the governor stood under an umbrella held by aides while the veterans were left in the rain.

According to İHA, Yum was first detained and interrogated by the police following a complaint filed by Governor Ercan Turan. After his release, he was taken into custody again, this time by the Gendarmerie.

Journalist Ercan Tunç, who reported on Yum’s detention for İHA, was also subsequently detained. Leading press organizations in Turkey have called for the release of both journalists.

Death threats on social media against journalist Rabia Önver

Journalist Rabia Önver received death threats on social media following her reports on ISIS and Hezbollah.

Önver filed a complaint with the Human Rights Association (İHD) regarding the threats she has been receiving for days.

Önver will then file a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office through her lawyer regarding the threats and insults.

Journalist reports she and colleague received threat of attack

Journalist Şule Aydın, the moderator of popular YouTube current affairs program Onlar, announced that she and her colleague Murat Ağırel had received a message that threatened them of an attack.

“We received a tip-off; a report claiming that a motorcycle attack targeting Murat and me is being planned, including the exact location where it would take place, and that hitmen have already been hired,” Aydın said during the show's latest episode that aired live on 16 October.

Aydın added that she and Ağırel had filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutors, requesting an investigation into the threat. “We made it clear that from now on, they [the prosecutor’s office] will be responsible for whatever may happen to us,” she said.

Aydın, Ağırel and other members of the Onlar team have recently focused on reporting on organized crime and criminal networks, which has sparked significant public attention.

Ekol TV decides to downsize: 300 journalists to lose their jobs

Following the withdrawal of investments by Azerbaijani business person Mübariz Mansimov, Ekol TV decided to downsize.

According to journalist İsmail Saymaz, who announced the development on his X account, the channel's Ankara office has been closed.

The channel will also lay off 250 people in İstanbul.

With the channel's decision to downsize, 300 journalists in Ankara and İstanbul will be left unemployed.

Journalist Öznur Değer gives a statement

An investigation has been launched by the Kızıltepe Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Öznur Değer, News Director of JinNews, on the suspicion of “resisting a police officer.”

Öznur Değer went to the Kızıltepe Police Headquarters with her lawyer on 15 October 2025, and gave a statement.

Berivan Kutlu's trial adjourned until January 2026

The first hearing in the trial of Mezopotamya Agency reporter Berivan Kutlu, who is charged with “terrorism propaganda” over statements she allegedly made during a television broadcast she participated in after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes and her social media posts was held at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court on 16 October 2025.

The hearing, attended by Kutlu and her lawyer Resul Temur, was observed by executives and journalists from the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG).

The hearing began with the identification of the defendants and the reading of the indictment summary, followed by Kutlu's defense. Denying the charges against her, Kutlu stated that the social media account belonged to her but not some of the posts cited as evidence in the indictment.

Lawyer Temur stated that the images allegedly shared from his client's social media account were taken from another account and that his client shared a screenshot, not a video.

The court ruled that the video allegedly shared by Kutlu should be sent to the police for resolution within 10 days and that once the resolution was complete, the file should be sent to the prosecutor's office for the preparation of the final opinion on the case.

The trial was adjourned until 29 January 2026.

Journalist Ahmet Kanbal's “disinformation” trial begins

The first hearing in the trial of Mezopotamya Agency reporter Ahmet Kanbal, who is charged with “spreading false information” over his live broadcast following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş in 2023, was held at the Adıyaman 5th Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 October 2025.

The court accepted the lawyer's excuse and Kanbal's request to defend himself in Mardin, adjourning the trial until 3 November 2025.

Court decides to continue travel ban in journalist Yıldız Tar's case

The first hearing in the trial of KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, who is being tried on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) investigation, was held at the Ankara 17th High Criminal Court on 13 October 2025.

Tar and her lawyers were present at the hearing, which P24 monitored.

In his defense, Tar stated that he has been known to the public as “Yıldız Tar” since 2010 and that he has initiated legal proceedings to change his name on his ID accordingly. He said that he had been working as a journalist since 2013, that he had started his career with the aim of “being the voice of the voiceless,” and that she had mainly worked in areas such as LGBT+ issues, femicide, Alevis, migrants, worker-labor struggles, and attacks against Kurds. Tar said that he served as editor-in-chief at Kaos GL, that his programs and articles appeared in various national and international media outlets, and that he received awards for his journalism activities.

Lawyer Veysel Ok stated that Tar was detained from his home at 4:30 a.m. and argued that the indictment was “not in accordance with the law.” Ok said that eight pages of the nine-page indictment consisted of telephone conversations, while one page was a “personal story.” Stating that they objected to the court's decision to accept the indictment, Ok said that the text presented the HDK as a terrorist organization through the DTK and attempted to equate two separate structures in violation of the principle of “no analogy in law.” He reminded that the HDK is a democratic platform without legal personality, comprising numerous civil society organizations and individuals; that HDK spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş is a member of a parliamentary committee and is recognized by the government; and that Sırrı Süreyya Önder is also among the founders of the HDK.

The court cleared the courtroom and adjourned for deliberation.

After the recess, the court panel adjourned the case until 23 February 2026. The court ruled to continue the travel ban but decided to lift the signature requirement and return the digital materials (phones and portable memory devices) seized by the police.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Judicial control measures against journalist Mehmet Şah Oruç remain in place

Trial of journalist Mehmet Şah Oruç on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Bitlis 2nd High Criminal Court on 14 October 2025.

Oruç did not attend the hearing, but his lawyer, Resul Temur, was present.

The prosecutor requested that the judicial control measures against Şah continue.

Lawyer Temur then requested that the judicial control measures imposed on Şah be lifted.

The court decided to continue the ban on leaving the country and postponed the case until 20 January 2026.

Ferhat Tunç's trial adjourned until June 2026

The 18th hearing in the trial of singer Ferhat Tunç, who is being tried on charges of “insulting the president” over his social media posts, was held at the Büyükçekmece 14th Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 October 2025.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was postponed adjourned until 9 June 2026.

The trial of Can Öztürk and 14 other defendants begins

The trial of T24 reporter Can Öztürk and 14 students from Boğaziçi University are being tried on charges of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations” for protesting a speech by Nurettin Yıldız, who advocates child marriage, at Boğaziçi began at the İstanbul 69th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 October 2025. Five of the defendants had been detained for two weeks following their arrest.

The trial was adjourned until 12 January 2026.

At least 28 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 17 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.