Four journalists charged in sweeping İmamoğlu indictment; Rahime Karvar given jail term; LeMan cartoonist Pehlevan stays behind bars despite release ruling tied to cartoon controversy; NOW TV ordered to change name or go dark by patent office

Four journalists charged in sweeping İmamoğlu indictment

The long-awaited indictment against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been held in pre-trial detention since 19 March 2025, and dozens of other opposition politicians and bureaucrats has been completed. The nearly 4,000-page document prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office also names four journalists as defendants, according to a copy of the indictment seen by Expression Interrupted. Ruşen Çakır, Soner Yalçın, Yavuz Oğhan and Şaban Sevinç are accused of aiding what prosecutors call “the İmamoğlu Criminal Organization.” Yalçın is also charged with “spreading false information” over a column published in late April, which was described in the indictment as "purely fictional" and "aimed at provoking public outrage."

The indictment alleges that the journalists produced “planned and coordinated news and video content” that functioned as PR for the alleged criminal organization, claiming they received payments on the instructions of jailed Municipality Spokesperson Murat Ongun and worked to “praise the criminal group and its leader and legitimize its actions” in the public eye. Prosecutors argue that although Sevinç, Oğhan, Çakır and Yalçın were not part of the group’s hierarchy, their actions amount to knowingly aiding the organization.

The four journalists were among six who were detained and taken to a police station to testify on 6 November. Yalçın, Oğhan, Sevinç, Çakır and a fifth journalist, Batuhan Çolak, were released under a travel ban later the same day after giving statements. Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, the sixth journalist summoned to testify, did not submit her statement as she lives abroad.

The indictment lists İmamoğlu and 402 other suspects, 105 of whom remain in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors are seeking convictions for 142 separate acts attributed to İmamoğlu and describe him as “the founder and leader of the criminal organization.” The total prison sentence requested amounts to 2,352 years, according to media reports.

Government-critical NOW TV ordered to change name or go dark by patent office

The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) has announced that it has revoked the name and logo registration of the critical broadcaster NOW TV.

Formerly known as Fox TV, the channel was forced to overhaul its branding and adopt a plain black logo in January 2025 following a protracted legal battle and a ruling by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK).

TÜRKPATENT’s decision, dated 5 November 2025, invalidates NOW TV’s current name and logo. As a result, the channel can no longer continue broadcasting under its existing brand and will be required either to change its name or halt broadcasting entirely.

Fox TV’s primetime newscast has long been one of the country’s most-watched programs and one of the few major platforms airing sustained criticism of the government. The channel was acquired by News Corporation in 2006, and in 2017 The Walt Disney Company took ownership of Fox TV. Following the acquisition, the channel underwent a rebranding process that eventually led to the adoption of the NOW TV name.

Emrullah Turanlı, owner of Taşyapı Construction, files a complaint against journalist Gözde Bedeloğlu

Emrullah Turanlı, owner of Taşyapı Construction, has filed a complaint against BirGün writer Gözde Bedeloğlu.

In the investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office following Turanlı's complaint, Bedeloğlu is accused of “insult,” “defamation,” “spreading false information,” and “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” over her article titled “Taşyapı's feet are untouched” published in BirGün on 19 September 2025.

In her statement to the police, Bedeloğlu said, “It is the duty of a journalist to bring current debates to the attention of the public and, in this context, to act as a watchdog for the public. I shared my opinions within the scope of this duty.”

KRT TV owner Fırat Bozfırat files a complaint against journalists

KRT TV owner Fırat Bozfırat has filed a complaint against KRT employees who went on strike because they had not been paid, over news reports about them.

As part of the complaint, Sefer Selçuk Özbek, Editor-in-Chief of birgun.net, Gökay Başcan, Editor-in-Chief of BirGünnewspaper, and Candan Yıldız, Editor-in-Chief of T24, were accused of “violating the privacy of private life,” “providing and obtaining data in violation of the law,” “spreading false information,” and “inciting the public to hatred and hostility.”

The complaint was based on reports about statements made by KRT TV workers, who went on strike because they had not been paid for months, in front of the television building, in Beşiktaş Square, and in Parliament.

LeMan cartoonist stays behind bars despite release ruling tied to cartoon controversy

An Istanbul court has ruled that cartoonist Doğan Pehlevan should be released, but he will remain imprisoned due to a separate case accusing him of “insulting the president.”

The first hearing in the trial against Pehlevan, a cartoonist for the satirical magazine LeMan, was held on 14 November 2025 at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. Pehlevan is accused of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” over a cartoon that allegedly depicted the prophets Muhammad and Moses, an accusation the magazine’s staff firmly deny.

The case drew widespread public attention after six LeMan employees were detained following a social media campaign targeting the cartoon on the evening of 30 June 2025. A crowd gathered outside the magazine’s office on Istanbul’s busy İstiklal Avenue, and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared footage of the detentions on his official social media account. All defendants except Pehlevan were later released pending trial.

Appearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from prison, Pehlevan denied that he had aimed to incite hatred with the cartoon. Defense lawyers requested Pehlevan’s release and the acquittal of all defendants, including managing editors Zafer Aknar and Aslan Özdemir, graphic designer Cebrail Okçu, and director Ali Yavuz, who were present in the courtroom.

The court ordered Pehlevan’s release under an international travel ban. However, he will remain in detention due to the ongoing “insulting the president” case. The trial was adjourned until 5 May 2026.

Medya Haber TV journalist sentenced to 1 year 13 months in jail for “aiding a terrorist organization”

An Istanbul court has sentenced journalist Rahime Karvar to 1 year and 13 months in prison on the charge of “aiding a terrorist organization.”

The fourth hearing in Karvar’s trial, where she was initially accused of “membership in a terrorist organization”, was held on 13 November 2025 at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court. Karvar, a journalist for the pro-Kurdish outlet Medya Haber TV, attended the hearing and requested her acquittal.

Accepting the prosecutor’s call for conviction, the court sentenced Karvar to 1 year and 13 months in prison for “aiding a terrorist organization.” It upheld her international travel ban but lifted the ban on leaving the province, replacing it with an ankle monitor. The court also removed her obligation to sign in regularly.

Karvar was detained on 17 January 2025 along with five other Medya Haber TV journalists and remained behind bars until her release on 12 June.

Mehmet Şahin's case file was sent to the prosecutor's office

The fifth hearing in the trial of Xwebûn newspaper writer Mehmet Şahin, who is on trial on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” over meetings he attended, press statements he made, interviews he conducted with news sources, and TV programs he prepared, was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 13 November 2025.

Şahin and his lawyer Resul Temur were present in the courtroom.

The court decided to send the case file to the prosecutor for preparation of the final opinion on the case. The court rejected the request to lift the ban on Şahin's travel abroad and postponed the trial until 17 February 2026.

Mehmet Göcekli's case adjourned until April 2026

The 10th hearing in the case against journalist Mehmet Göcekli, who is charged with “terrorism propaganda” over his social media posts, was held at the Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court on 13 November 2025.

Göcekli's lawyer, Ceren Kalı, was present at the hearing, which Göcekli did not attend.

The trial was adjourned until 22 April 2026.

Case filed against Furkan Karabay by Bilal Erdoğan's complaint adjourned until May 2026

The second hearing in the trial of detained journalist Furkan Karabay, over charges of “insult” and “defamation” over Bilal Erdoğan's complaint regarding his social media post, was held at the İstanbul 47th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 November 2025.

Karabay attended the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from the prison where he is being held, while his lawyer, Özge Naz Akkaya, was present in the courtroom.

The defense requested acquittal.

The court postponed the case until 14 May 2026.

Rüstem Batum's “insulting the president” case postponed until April 2026

The 16th hearing in the case against journalist Rüstem Batum on the charge of “insulting the president” was held at the İstanbul 5th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 November 2025.

Batum did not attend the hearing, but his lawyer, Emine Özhisar, was present in the courtroom.

The trial was adjourned until 7 April 2026.

Sedef Kabaş's “insulting the president” trial adjourned until February 2026

The eighth hearing in the trial of journalist Sedef Kabaş, who is charged with “insulting the President” over her social media posts, was held at the Anadolu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 November 2025.

Kabaş did not attend the hearing, but her lawyer Selen Sınmaz was present in the courtroom.

After the identification process, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's lawyer Mehmet İnal said, “We want the defendant to be punished.”

Kabaş's lawyer, Sınmaz, referred to the European Court of Human Rights' Vedat Şorli ruling and requested an immediate acquittal or dismissal of the case.

The court stated that the case was connected to cases at the İstanbul 36th High Criminal Court and the Anadolu 7th High Criminal Court and decided to wait for the verdicts in those cases to become final.

The case was postponed until 5 February 2026.

Court rules for release of jailed journalist Perihan Erkılınç

The first hearing in the trial of imprisoned Özgür Gelecek reporter Perihan Erkılınç, who is on trial for “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the İstanbul 23rd High Criminal Court on 12 November 2025.

Erkılınç was brought to the courtroom under gendarmerie escort while her lawyers were present at the court room. P24 monitored the hearing.

Erkılınç began her defense, stating, “I am a journalist, and I have been living at the same address for a long time. I do not think there is any reason for my arrest. I have celiac disease and asthma. I request my release.”

After the witness statements, the prosecutor requested that Erkılınç remain in custody.

The court decided to release Erkılınç with judicial control measures, including a ban on leaving the country and signing in once a week.

The trial was postponed until 2 February 2026.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Furkan Karabay's compensation case adjourned until July 2026

The hearing in the compensation case of TL 150,000 filed against journalist Furkan Karabay, upon the complaint of Antalya Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Yakup Ali Kahveci, was held at the İstanbul 12th Civil Court of First Instance on 12 November 2025.

The court decided to await the outcome of the case filed against Karabay at the İstanbul 30th Criminal Court of First Instance based on the complaint filed by Antalya Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Yakup Ali Kahveci, and to inquire about the status of the case again from the relevant court on 15 June 2026.

The case was postponed until 8 July 2026.

Karabay is being tried over two news articles and social media posts.

Writer Yavuz Ekinci's retrial case dismissed

The hearing in writer Yavuz Ekinci's retrial case on the charge of “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court on 10 November 2025.

Ekinci is being tried over his novel Rüyası Bölünenler (Those Whose Dreams Were Divided), published 10 years ago.

The prosecutor requested that the case be dismissed, while Ekinci requested acquittal.

The court decided to dismiss the case on the grounds of the statute of limitations.

At least 28 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

Following the release of Perihan Erkılınç, as of 14 November 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.