Veteran journalist Altaylı sentenced over YouTube comments and remains in prison; journalists acquitted over reporting on mass İmamoğlu demonstrations; Turkey’s media regulator fines five outlets over content from politics to culture

Journalist Altaylı sentenced to over 4 years in jail for “threatening the president”

Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altaylı was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison on the charge of “threatening the president” over comments he made during a broadcast on his widely followed YouTube channel. Altaylı was detained on 21 June 2025 and later jailed following the prosecutor’s decision to file charges. Following the verdict announcement during a hearing on 27 November, the court declined to release him, ordering that he remain in prison pending the appeal process.

The hearing was held at the high-security courthouse adjacent to Silivri Prison on Istanbul’s western outskirts. In his defense, Altaylı categorically rejected the accusation, saying it was impossible for him to pose any threat to the president.

“I asked a journalist friend to check whether the president’s schedule had changed after my broadcast. It had not changed at all,” Altaylı told the court. “There is nothing in my remarks that could unsettle or frighten the president. I am not a member of any organization. I have never resorted to violence. I stand before you as an ordinary citizen.”

The broadcast at the center of the case discussed a public opinion poll showing that 70 percent of respondents opposed the idea of the president remaining in power indefinitely. Altaylı described the finding as unsurprising, noting that Turkish people “love going to the polls” and have historically resisted attempts to curtail their voting rights. Drawing on examples from the late Ottoman period, he remarked that unpopular rulers were sometimes “strangled or fell victim to palace plots.”

Shortly after the episode aired on a channel with more than 1.7 million subscribers, edited clips of his comments began circulating on social media. The excerpts stripped his remarks of context and reframed them as threats against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Before Altaylı’s detention, one of the president’s senior advisers, Oktay Saral, had publicly targeted him, saying he was “already in hot water.”

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Turkey’s media regulator fines five outlets over content from politics to culture

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) on 27 November 2025 issued fines against three television channels and two radio stations for alleged violations of broadcasting regulations.

The opposition news channel SÖZCÜ TV was fined over remarks aired on the program Türkiye'nin Sözü (Turkey’s Word), in which CHP Deputy Chairman Suat Özçağdaş criticized the government, saying it had “lost its legitimacy,” was “seeking legitimacy in America,” and was “giving away the country’s mines.” He also alleged that National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin was steering the country “in a completely different direction” under the influence of a religious sect. RTÜK claimed the comments “contained baseless accusations, created suspicion, cast aspersions, exceeded the bounds of criticism, and were incompatible with public responsibility.”

The Şanlıurfa-based local broadcaster Edessa TV was also fined for statements made in the documentary Gezgin Mikrofon (Traveling Microphone), hosted by Filiz Aslan. In the episode, Aslan expressed regret that many churches in the historic Armenian city of Ani in Kars were converted into mosques nearly a millennium ago. RTÜK deemed the following passage “contrary to national and spiritual values, general morality, and the principle of protecting the family”: “After Alparslan conquered this city in 1065, he converted most of the churches into mosques and built new mosques. Unfortunately, this is a reflection of our vandalistic culture.”

TLC received a fine for airing the film The Devil’s Advocate on the grounds that it “contained suggestive scenes.” Metro FM was fined after a listener’s message, read on air during the station's morning program, stated: “I regret not trying all drugs at least once.” RTÜK said broadcast services must not encourage addictive substances or gambling. The Council also issued a judicial fine to the local station Burhaniye Radyo Ses for its program Mahkum Özel (Prisoner Special), in which detained or convicted individuals sent messages to the broadcast. RTÜK claimed that “coded messages or instructions could be conveyed through song requests.

Journalists face trial for reporting torture allegations against gendarmerie commander

A lawsuit was filed on 24 November 2025 against JinNews News Director Öznur Değer and former Yeni Yaşam managing editor Osman Akın on the charge of “disclosing the identities of individuals assigned to the fight against terrorism,” following their reporting on allegations of torture by military personnel.

The indictment, prepared by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and accepted by the Mardin 2nd High Criminal Court, is based on a criminal complaint submitted by Kamil Aksoy, Commander of the Kızıltepe Gendarmerie Commando Battalion. The complaint targets news reports published by the two pro-Kurdish outlets on accusations brought by the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD). According to those reports, ÖHD filed a criminal complaint accusing Aksoy of overseeing soldiers who tortured and threatened villagers and women during house raids in Eskihisar, a village in the Nusaybin district near the Syrian border.

Access to the JinNews article titled “Criminal complaint against Commander Kamil Aksoy, perpetrator of torture in Nisêbîn” was subsequently blocked by the Kızıltepe Criminal Court of Peace at Aksoy’s request.

On 14 October 2024, an investigation was opened against Değer on the grounds of “targeting a person involved in the fight against terrorism,” with Aksoy claiming that the reporting “did not fall within the scope of press freedom.” The investigation was later expanded to include Yeni Yaşam newspaper, which had also published Değer’s reporting.

Journalists face trial for reporting torture allegations against gendarmerie commander

A lawsuit was filed on 24 November 2025 against JinNews News Director Öznur Değer and former Yeni Yaşam managing editor Osman Akın on the charge of “disclosing the identities of individuals assigned to the fight against terrorism,” following their reporting on allegations of torture by military personnel.

The indictment, prepared by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and accepted by the Mardin 2nd High Criminal Court, is based on a criminal complaint submitted by Kamil Aksoy, Commander of the Kızıltepe Gendarmerie Commando Battalion. The complaint targets news reports published by the two pro-Kurdish outlets on accusations brought by the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD). According to those reports, ÖHD filed a criminal complaint accusing Aksoy of overseeing soldiers who tortured and threatened villagers and women during house raids in Eskihisar, a village in the Nusaybin district near the Syrian border.

Access to the JinNews article titled “Criminal complaint against Commander Kamil Aksoy, perpetrator of torture in Nisêbîn” was subsequently blocked by the Kızıltepe Criminal Court of Peace at Aksoy’s request.

On 14 October 2024, an investigation was opened against Değer on the grounds of “targeting a person involved in the fight against terrorism,” with Aksoy claiming that the reporting “did not fall within the scope of press freedom.” The investigation was later expanded to include Yeni Yaşam, which had also published Değer’s reporting.

A lawsuit filed against journalist İsmail Arı following a complaint by RTÜK

A lawsuit has been filed against journalist İsmail Arı following a complaint by the Radio and Television Supreme Council RTÜK, citing his reporting as grounds. Arı, who announced the development on his X account, will be tried for the news story titled "Skandalın RTÜK ayağı neden araştırılmıyor?” (Why isn't the RTÜK aspect of the scandal being investigated?) published in BirGün newspaper on 30 August.

Arı stated that Ebubekir Şahin, the RTÜK President at the time, was also listed as a victim in the case.

Lawsuit filed against bianet editor Tuğçe Yılmaz for “denigrating the Turkish nation”

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against bianet editor Tuğçe Yılmaz on the charge of “denigrating the Turkish nation” over a news story covering her interview with young Turkish Armenians.

The Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment filed by the prosecutor's office and set the first hearing date for 2 December at.

Yılmaz will be tried for her article titled “Türkiyeli Ermeni gençler anlatıyor: 109 yıldır süren yas” (Armenian youth in Turkey tell their story: 109 years of mourning.)

Journalist briefly detained over address error

Journalist Rojda Altıntaş was taken to a police station on 27 November 2025 on suspicion of “violating the confidentiality of communications.”

Altıntaş wrote on social media that during a routine criminal record check, police informed her that an arrest warrant had been issued and that she was being taken in for questioning.

Her lawyer, Mehmet Zengin, said the warrant resulted from complaints filed by an individual who has repeatedly targeted Altıntaş, and that an address error in the official notification process triggered the warrant. Altıntaş was released after giving her statement.

Hatice Şahin's trial postponed until May 2026

The third hearing in the trial of journalist Hatice Şahin, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court on 27 November 2025.

Following Şahin's defense, the court postponed the case until 5 May 2026.

Eight journalists acquitted in trial of Saraçhane protests

The second hearing in the trial of 12 people including journalists Bülent Kılıç, Yasin Akgül, Zeynep Kuray, Gökhan Kam, Kurtuluş Arı, Ali Onur Tosun, Hayri Tunç, and Emre Orman, for “violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” case was held at the Istanbul 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 27 November 2025. The journalists had covered the protests staged against the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and were sent to pre-trial detention for two days.

The hearing, monitored by P24, took place in the courtroom of Istanbul 16th High Criminal Court. The defendants did not attend the hearing, but their lawyers were present.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested the acquittal of all defendants.

Journalist Hayri Tunç's lawyer, Şule Recepoğlu, stated that her client was present at the scene to cover the news and requested acquittal. The other defendants' lawyers also stated that they agreed with the prosecutor's opinion and requested the acquittal of their clients.

The court decided to acquit all defendants separately because “it was not established that the defendants committed the alleged crime.”

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In the case of Osman Akın and Veysi Sarısözen, Sarısözen's file separated

The 20th hearing in the case against journalists Osman Akın and Veysi Sarısözen on the charge of “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court on 27 November 2025.

No one appeared at the hearing.

The court decided to separate Sarısözen's case file and sent it to the prosecutor's office for the preparation of the final opinion on the case.

The trial was postponed until 27 January 2026.

Journalist Şerife Oruç's trial postponed until June 2026

The 30th hearing in the case of journalist Şerife Oruç, who has been on trial since 2016 on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Batman 2nd High Criminal Court on 27 November 2025.

Oruç did not attend the hearing, but her lawyer, Mesut Aydın, was present in the courtroom.

As in previous hearings, the court decided to await the execution of the arrest warrant for journalist Oruç, and adjourned the trial until 16 June 2026.

Proceedings will be conducted in accordance with the reversal ruling in Hasan Cemal's retrial

The second hearing in the retrial of journalist Hasan Cemal on the charge of “insulting the president” over a column published in 2016 on the T24 website was held at the Ankara 24th Criminal Court of First Instance on 27 November 2025.

Following the Supreme Court's reversal decision, Cemal and his lawyer Fikret İlkiz participated in the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from the Istanbul 45th Criminal Court of First Instance.

After his identity was verified, Cemal stated in his defense, “I did not come here to defend myself. I do not need to defend myself. I know very well how a terrible state apparatus has been established in this country to make people live in lies.”

Following Cemal's defense, the court decided to return the case file to the court to which the instruction document belonged so that proceedings could be carried out in accordance with the reversal ruling.

Trial of journalists detained while covering press conference gets underway

The first hearing in the trial of JinNews reporter Elfazi Toral and Demokratik Modernite magazine employee Sema Korkmaz, who were detained while covering a press conference in front of the DEM Party Istanbul Provincial Headquarters, and one other person on, charges of “resisting to prevent the performance of duty” and “participating in illegal meetings and marches without weapons and failing to disperse voluntarily despite warnings” was held at the Istanbul 25th Criminal Court of First Instance on 27 November 2025.

Toral and her lawyer Sidar Perçin were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

After her identity was verified, Toral presented her defense, stating, "I went to the press conference as a journalist to cover the news. I was unaware of any ban. I had a camera and tripod in my hand. While the crowd was waiting for the announcement, the police first intervened directly against the press. I was there as a member of the press, and we were not given any warning by the police. I did not resist the police in any way, I did not assault them.”

The prosecutor requested that the missing details be addressed. Lawyer Perçin requested that her client, Toral, be excused from the hearings.

The court decided to excuse Elfazi Toral from the hearings. The court also decided to take procedural steps to investigate Sema Korkmaz's address and obtain her statement and postponed the case until 14 April 2026.

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Rüstem Batum's case for "denigrating state institutions" dismissed due to the statute of limitations

The 26th hearing in the trial of journalist Rüstem Batum,on the charge of “denigrating the state institutions” was held at the Istanbul 43rd Criminal Court of First Instance on 26 November 2025.

Batum's lawyer, Hazal Sümeli, was present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

The court decided to dismiss the case due to the expiration of the eight-year statute of limitations.

The statements made by Batum on the program “Ayşegül Doğan ile Gündem Müzakere” (Agenda Negotiation with Ayşegül Doğan) broadcast on İMC TV on 10 September 2015 were presented as evidence for the charges against him.

Anonymous witness heard in trial of journalist Abdurrahman Gök

The ninth hearing in the trial of the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 25 November 2025.

Gök and his lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

The new indictment filed by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Gök on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” was combined with the existing case file. Defending himself on the combined case file, Gök said, "It all comes back to my taking photos of Kemal Kurkut. These photos are the real reason I am being tried. I am a journalist and have never had any other profession besides journalism. I want my acquittal and the lifting of the ban on leaving the country.”

Mehmet Emin Aktar, one of Gök's lawyers, said, “As can be understood from other cases, Abdurrahman Gök is an adversary of the Turkish Republic's security forces. Accusing someone of a crime based on an abstract claim is a grave injustice.”

The court decided to inquire about the outcome of Gök's case at the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation but rejected the requests to lift the international travel ban. The trial was postponed until 26 February 2026.

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The trial of BirGün columnist Zafer Arapkirli adjourned until January 2026

The first hearing in the trial of BirGün newspaper columnist Zafer Arapkirli on the charge of “insulting the president” over his social media post was held at the Istanbul 60th Criminal Court of First Instance on 25 November 2025. The investigation was initiated after Cem Küçük, a columnist for the pro-government Türkiyenewspaper, targeted a post made by Arapkirli. Following Arapkirli's post on X stating, “YOU ARE A VERY BAD SCREENWRITER... You always have been,” Küçük accused Arapkirli of targeting the President and called on the prosecutor's office to take action.

Arapkirli and his lawyers were present in the courtroom.

Arapkirli said the following in his defense: "First of all, it is necessary to emphasize and remind everyone once again, as it is already common knowledge: This is a trial based on a report and a complaint. But there is no crime here. We can only talk about a political trial and, as in every political trial, an ‘attempt to silence and intimidate.’ I am 68 years old and have 48 years of professional experience in journalism. That is, nearly half a century. I have always lived fighting against the established order, oppressive regimes, and anti-democratic practices. Since I was almost 18 years old, I have fought against such administrations without fear and without any hesitation."

The lawyers then presented their defense and requested acquittal. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's lawyer requested to join the case as co-plaintiff.

The court accepted the request to participate in the case and postponed the trial until 13 January 2026 for the prosecutor to file their final opinion on the case.

Rüstem Batum's trial postponed until April 2026

The ninth hearing in the trial of journalist Rüstem Batum, on the charge of “insulting the president” was held at the Istanbul 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 25 November 2025.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was postponed until 13 April 2026.

At least 27 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 28 November 2025, there are at least 27 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.