Barış Terkoğlu detained as prosecutors seek his sources; Ekol TV shuts down after citing financial sustainability issues; retrial seeks harsher sentence for journalist on “terror propaganda” charges; İsmail Arı sued over corruption reporting

Journalist Barış Terkoğlu briefly detained as prosecutors seek his sources

Journalist Barış Terkoğlu, a reporter for the daily Cumhuriyet, was detained on 25 December on charges of “spreading false information” in connection with a news report he presented during a YouTube broadcast for the independent channel Onlar, to which he is a regular contributor.

Terkoğlu was released later the same day under a judicial control measure imposing an international travel ban. After his release, he said prosecutors had seized his mobile phone in an attempt to identify his sources, but that he had refused to disclose them during his questioning, citing his constitutional right and professional obligation to protect journalistic sources.

The detention followed Terkoğlu’s reporting on the background of a wide-ranging “drug operation” that came to public attention two weeks earlier with the arrests of Habertürk editor-in-chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Show TV anchor Ela Rümeysa Cebeci. The investigation began months after trustees were appointed to Can Holding, the parent company of the media group that owns Habertürk, Show TV, and Bloomberg HT. The case has dominated headlines in recent weeks amid sensational allegations of drug use, trafficking, and organized sexual activity, fueled by leaked witness statements circulated in both traditional and social media.

In a video shared on YouTube and X, Terkoğlu said that during a police raid on a venue called “Kütüphane” (“Library”), which had previously been reported as a speakeasy-style nightclub frequented by Ersoy and associates, officers encountered a prosecutor employed by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In his reporting, Terkoğlu stated that his claims were based on sources within the Ministry of Interior and noted that the venue had been subject to police operations in the past. He also reported that a disciplinary complaint concerning the prosecutor had been filed with the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK).

The owner and the manager of the venue were arrested last week as part of the same drug investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which has since expanded to include celebrities, social media influencers, and business figures, among them the chair of the Fenerbahçe sports club.

Journalist Erdinç detained and questioned over alleged links in ongoing “drug” probe

Journalist Emrullah Erdinç was detained and questioned on 22 December as part of a large-scale “drug” investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which was expanded following the high-profile arrest of Habertürk’s editor-in-chief, Mehmet Akif Ersoy, two weeks ago.

Erdinç, a seasoned journalist who served as news manager at national broadcaster Kanal D until 2023, was reportedly taken in for questioning on the basis of evidence obtained through technical and physical surveillance within the scope of the investigation. He was released later the same day.

In a video shared on his social media accounts, Erdinç said that no judicial control measures were imposed and that no hair or blood samples were taken for drug testing. He stated that he was questioned solely on the basis of his personal friendship with Mehmet Akif Ersoy. Photographs circulating on social media show Erdinç accompanying Ersoy in birthday celebrations.

Erdinç is widely known for his reporting on security and judicial affairs on social media and was most recently hosting the program Adliye Koridorları (Court Corridors) on Habertürk.

Former Habertürk Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy and news anchor Ela Rumeysa Cebeci were imprisoned pending trial as part of the same investigation. The case continues to dominate the public agenda amid widespread speculation about the involvement of bureaucratic and judicial officials in an alleged network.

Ekol TV shuts down after citing financial sustainability issues

Ekol TV, which was established nearly two years ago, announced on 22 December 2025 that it would cease broadcasting and shut down operations.

In a statement published on its website, the channel said that “recent developments in its capital structure and related changes have negatively affected economic sustainability,” adding that it had therefore decided to halt broadcasting.

Ekol TV began airing on 29 April 2024 and quickly attracted public attention after signing several high-profile journalists and commentators. Industry observers speculated at the time that the channel was paying unusually high salaries to retain these figures.

The channel was initially founded by Azerbaijani businessperson Mübariz Mansimov, owner of Palmali Group, a global logistics company specializing in maritime shipping. In August, Mansimov announced that he would withdraw from Ekol TV and from media investments altogether, a move that led to a significant downsizing of the channel’s operations. Ekol TV’s Ankara bureau was subsequently closed, and journalists reported that as many as 300 employees were expected to lose their jobs.

In parallel, persistent claims circulated among journalists that Northern Cyprus–based businessperson Veysel Şahin, who has been accused of operating illegal betting networks, was the channel’s undisclosed partner and de facto owner. These allegations were accompanied by speculation that Ekol TV may have been financed through funds introduced under Turkey’s 2022 “asset peace” law and linked to potential money laundering activities.

After a period widely perceived as permissive, authorities have recently intensified investigations into alleged financial crimes. On 16 December, trustees were appointed to GAİN Media as part of a separate money laundering investigation, further underscoring the tightening scrutiny of media companies’ financial structures.

Journalist İsmail Arı sued over corruption reporting involving minister’s husband

Journalist İsmail Arı announced that a lawsuit has been filed against him following a complaint by Rahmi Göktaş, the husband of Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş.

Arı said he is being prosecuted on the grounds that his reporting on Göktaş’s alleged links to a corruption case created a “perception of involvement in corruption.” He stressed that the alleged connections cited in his report were based on documents, which he made public at the time of publication.

The case concerns an article published in the daily BirGün on 12 December 2024, titled “Kamu vakfı naylon faturalarla soyulmuş” (“Public foundation embezzled with fake invoices”). The report included allegations of embezzlement involving the Yunus Emre Foundation, a public foundation.

Trial of İrfan Uçar for “membership in a terrorist organization” adjourned until April 2026

The fourth hearing in the trial of journalist İrfan Uçar, who was detained during a home raid on 6 December 2024, on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Gaziantep 2nd High Criminal Court on 25 December 2025.

Uçar and his lawyer Yakup Doğan were present in the courtroom.

The trial was adjourned until 2 April 2026.

The indictment against Uçar cites the statement he made to a TV channel (ROJ) about the killing of two journalists; books and digital materials seized during the house raid; secret and open witness statements; two years of phone tapping and technical surveillance reports as elements of the crime.

Ramazan Ölçen's case adjourned until April 2026

The 17th hearing in the trial of Ramazan Ölçen, the licensee of the now-defunct Azadiya Welat newspaper, on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Diyarbakır 11th High Criminal Court on 24 December 2025.

At the end of the hearing in which the defense statements were not received, the court adjourned the trial until 22 April 2026.

Court refuses request for acquittal in Pride March case

The second hearing in the trial of bianet editor Evrim Gündüz, former Özgür Gelecek newspaper reporter Yusuf Çelik, journalists Nur Kaya and Zilan Azad, and photographer Cansu Yıldıran, who are charged with “participating in illegal meetings and marches without weapons and failing to disperse voluntarily despite warnings” was held at the Istanbul 51st Criminal Court of First Instance on 24 December 2025.

P24 monitored the hearing.

Due to insufficient capacity in the courtroom, the hearing continued in the courtroom of Istanbul 39th High Criminal Court. With the defendants and their lawyers present, the hearing began with the identification of the defendants, followed by the judge reading the indictment.

The lawyers requested an immediate acquittal before proceeding to the defense.

The court postponed the trial until 5 June 2026, ordering that the necessary procedures be taken to hear the defense of the five people who were not heard.

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“Özgür Gündem solidarity” case adjourned until December

The 15th hearing in the retrial of Erol Önderoğlu, Turkey representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, and journalist Ahmet Nesin, whose acquittals were overturned by the appellate court, in the “Özgür Gündem Solidarity” case on charges of “inciting people to commit crime,” “praising an offense or an offender” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court on 25 December 2025.

Önderoğlu attended the hearing.

The court decided to wait for a response to a request sent abroad and postponed the case until 31 March 2026.

Trial of Hayko Bağdat adjourned until July 2026

The 18th hearing in the trial of journalist Hayko Bağdat, who is being tried on the charge of “terrorism propaganda” over his social media posts, was held at the İstanbul 28th High Criminal Court on 25 December 2025.

Bağdat’s lawyer Hazal Sümeli attended the hearing.

The trial was adjourned until 7 July 2026.

Compensation case against Ceren Sözeri and Evrensel daily adjourned

The 13th hearing in the compensation case filed upon a complaint by Serhat Albayrak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Turkuvaz Media Group, against Ceren Sözeri, a writer for the Evrensel newspaper, over her article titled “AKP’ye Kim Oy Kaybettirdi?” (Who Lost Votes for the AKP?) published in 2019, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance on 24 December 2025.

Sözeri's lawyers İrem Poyraz and Devrim Avcı were present at the hearing.

The court decided to await the finalization of the case in which Sözeri and the Evrensel newspaper are being tried at the İstanbul 8th Civil Court of First Instance.

The trial was adjourned until 13 May 2026.

Deniz Yücel's trial adjourned until October 2026

The 12th hearing in the case against journalist Deniz Yücel, charged with “insulting the Turkish nation” and “insulting the President,” was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 23 December 2025.

The hearing lasted only three minutes.

The newly appointed judge decided to postpone the case until 1 October 2026, pending the execution of the arrest warrant issued against Yücel.

Democratic Modernity trial adjourned until October 2026

The eighth hearing in the trial of Demokratik Modernite magazine Managing Editor Ramazan Yurttapan, editor Haydar Ergül and contributors Cihan Doğan, Musa Şanak and Nazan Üstündağ on the charge of “denigrating the Turkish nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey and the institution and organs of the state” was held at the İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 23 December 2025.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was adjourned until 1 October 2026.

The indictment cites statements made in eight articles published in the 37th issue of the magazine as evidence for the charges against Yurttapan, Ergül, and the writers.

Retrial seeks harsher sentence for journalist on “terror propaganda” charges after appeal ruling

The prosecutor has sought a prison sentence for journalist Perihan Kaya at the latest hearing of her retrial on charges of “terrorism propaganda,” presenting the final opinion on the case. The ninth hearing was held on 24 December 2025 at the Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court, which adjourned the proceedings until 7 January 2026.

Kaya was first tried on the same charges at a hearing on 24 March 2021, when she was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for “terrorism propaganda” and acquitted of the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The appellate court later overturned that ruling, citing the failure to apply provisions on consecutive sentencing and finding the penalty imposed insufficient, and ordered a retrial.

A former reporter for the Jin News Agency (JINHA) and a podcaster, Kaya is being prosecuted over her past membership in the now-defunct Free Journalists Association (ÖGC), her social media posts, phone conversations with fellow journalists, and statements by anonymous witnesses. The indictment alleges that she was “responsible for the Press Sector of the KCK structure.”

Turkish courts have previously defined the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) as an armed urban structure linked to the PKK, an assessment that has been cited in numerous cases since the large-scale proceedings known as the “KCK Press Trial” in 2011.

The trial of 38 individuals, including journalists, adjourned until April 2026

The 14th hearing in the case against 38 people, including Tayip Temel and Pero Dündar, former editors-in-chief of the closed Azadiya Welat newspaper, on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Diyarbakır 2nd High Criminal Court on 23 December 2025.

The hearing began with the identification of the defendants. In addition to the defendants' lawyers, defendants Sabahattin Dinç and Abdullah Bozkoyu were present at the hearing.

Speaking at the hearing, Bozkoyu stated that his assets had been seized for two years as part of the trial and requested that this decision be lifted due to the hardship he had suffered.

Lawyers requested that the ongoing international travel ban on the defendants be lifted.

The court accepted the request to lift the seizure order on the defendants' assets and the judicial control measure, and postponed the case until 14 July 2026.

At least 29 journalists and media workers in prison

As of 26 December 2025, there are at least 29 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either in pre-trial detention or serving a finalized prison sentence.

The full list can be accessed here