Journalists detained over İncirlik Air Base broadcast released; three journalists acquitted in three cases; prosecutor demands punishment for Furkan Karabay

Journalists detained over İncirlik Air Base broadcast released under judicial control measures

Five people including three journalists, who were arrested over a live broadcast of İncirlik Air Base, were released under judicial control measures on 2 March 2026.

ANKA News Agency had shared a live broadcast of approximately 1.5 hours on its social media account, showing activity around the base, under the headline “Operational activity at İncirlik Air Base.” The Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the broadcast. As part of the probe, Kenan Şener, Editor-in-Chief of ANKA News Agency, as well as Mehlika Bilen, General Manager of local broadcaster Koza TV, and reporter Serkan Ölçen, were detained in the evening. Güral Bıçakçı, an employee of the Adana Metropolitan Municipality, and the owner of the workplace where the journalists filmed the air base were also taken into custody.

The detainees, who were taken into custody on 28 February, were referred to the prosecutor's office on Monday, 2 March 2026.

Labor and professional organizations had described the detention as “disproportionate,” noting that the footage was later removed, with an apology, and that no military secrets were disclosed. Many journalists highlighted that footage from İncirlik Air Base was common during previous US operations in the Middle East. The Turkish government has denied claims that it provided any support to the operation.

Indictment filed against jailed journalist Oruç

An indictment has been filed against Nedim Oruç, a reporter for Ajansa Welat, who was beaten and detained while covering a protest in the Nur neighborhood of Cizre district in Şırnak on 14 January and subsequently imprisoned pending trial, on charges of  “possession or transfer of dangerous substances without permission,” “covering their face to conceal their identity during meetings and demonstrations,” “terrorism propaganda,” “resisting to prevent the performance of duty,” and “damaging public property.”

Oruç's news reports were cited as evidence of his crimes in the indictment. His coverage of the Kurdish Freedom Movement's call for withdrawal from Northern Kurdistan in Qandil on 26 October 2025, was cited as a crime. Oruç's news reports and social media posts about the destroyed cemeteries were also considered crimes. In addition, the footage Oruç took during the incident on 14 January, when he was beaten and detained while covering the protest, was also included in the charges.

The indictment was accepted by the Şırnak 1st High Criminal Court. The first hearing will be held on 24 April 2026.

Investigation launched against MA reporter Şahinli

The Muş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Ceylan Şahinli on charges of “terrorism propaganda.”

The investigation concerns the commemoration of murders of Sakine Cansız (Sara), Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn), and Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî) in Paris, France, on 9 January 2013; Emine Kara (Evîn Goyî), who was killed on 23 December 2022; and Sêvê Demir, Fatma Uyar, and Pakize Nayır, who were killed in Şırnak on 4 January 2016. It was alleged that Şahinli participated in the commemoration held in Muş on 9 January.

Şahinli gave a statement with her lawyer Servet Ekmekçi at the Muş Provincial Police Headquarters on 6 March.

Journalist Zeynep Durgut faces investigation

An investigation has been launched against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Zeynep Durgut over her news report on tree felling in the İdil district of Şırnak.

The investigation against Durgut was based on her report regarding allegations that trees were cut down on land belonging to villagers due to the planned construction of a police station in the village of Mağara.

Durgut went to the police station with her lawyer on 2 April and gave a statement.

Prosecutor drops charges against journalist Sultan Mercan

The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has dropped the charges acter 16 months against journalist Sultan Mercan, who was arrested during a home raid launched over her journalistic activities.

As part of an investigation based in Eskişehir, 16 people, including journalists, writers, and cartoonists, were detained on 26 November 2024. Those detained in house raids conducted in Diyarbakır, Istanbul, Eskişehir, Batman, and Antalya over their work with Özgür Politika and PolitikArt were held in custody for three days.

The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terrorism Crimes Bureau issued a decision not to prosecute Roza Metina (Sultan Mercan), President of the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association, who was among those detained as part of this investigation. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ruled that the evidence in the case, which had been under investigation for approximately 16 months, was insufficient to bring a public prosecution.

Democratik Modernite trial adjourned until February 2026

The ninth hearing in the trial of Demokratik Modernite magazine former Editor-in-Chief 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 5 March 2026.

The defendants did not attend the hearing, but their lawyer, Sercan Korkmaz, was present in the courtroom.

The case was postponed until 3 December 2026.

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

Cumhuriyet reporter İpek acquitted

The fourth hearing in the trial of Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Engin Deniz İpek and a total of 35 people on charges of “participating in illegal meetings and marches without weapons and refusing to disperse despite warnings” was held at the Istanbul 64th Criminal Court of First Instance on 4 March 2026.

The defendants and their lawyers were present in the courtroom.

The defendants made their closing statements and requested acquittal. All lawyers also made arguments in favor of acquittal.

İpek's lawyer, Enes Hikmet Ermaner, stated, “My client is a journalist who covers social events in the public interest. He carries out journalistic activities within the scope of the Press Law and the Press Labor Law. Subjecting journalists to judicial harassment in such cases has a deterrent effect on the press and freedom of expression."

The court decided to acquit all defendants on the grounds that the legal elements of the crime were not present.

Prosecutor requests sentencing for Reyhan Hacıoğlu

The fourth hearing in the trial of journalist Reyhan Hacıoğlu on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Van 2nd High Criminal Court on 3 March 2026.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested a sentence for the impugned crime.

The court, which did not lift Hacıoğlu's international travel ban, postponed the case until 14 May 2026.

Oğuz Bakır acquitted

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Oğuz Bakır on charges of “insulting a public official” was held at the Istanbul 34th Criminal Court of First Instance on 3 March 2026.

Bakır's lawyer, Hasan Basri Şen, was present at the hearing, which Bakır did not attend. P24 monitored the hearing.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested punishment for the impugned crime.

The court ruled for Bakır’s acquittal on the grounds that the elements of the alleged crime were not present.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Compensation lawsuit against Furkan Karabay postponed

The fifth hearing in the TL 250,000 moral damages lawsuit against journalist Furkan Karabay, filed upon a complaint by Mustafa Doğan İnal, former lawyer of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was held at the Istanbul 32nd Civil Court of First Instance on 3 March 2026.

While the parties did not attend the hearing, their lawyers were present via e-hearing.

At the hearing, the lawyers for the parties requested that the case be postponed until the criminal case heard at the Istanbul 5th Criminal Court of First Instance is finalized.

The court accepted the request and postponed the case until 15 September 2026.

Zafer Arapkirli acquitted

The third hearing in the trial of journalist Zafer Arapkirli on charges of “insulting the president” was held at the Istanbul 60th Criminal Court of First Instance on 3 March 2026.

Arapkirli and his lawyers were present in the courtroom.

The prosecutor had presented their final opinion on the case at the previous hearing and requested that Arapkirli be punished for the impugned crime.

Presenting his defense regarding the prosecutor’s opinion, Arapkirli said, "There are no insulting sentences in the post in question. An attempt has been made to create a non-existent crime based on the slander of a dishonorable informant. These unjust lawsuits are being filed because we criticized a poorly run administration and because we are on the side of good in the conflict between good and evil. There is no crime here. I demand my acquittal."

The court ruled that the elements of the crime were not present.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Nurcan Yalçın's ban on leaving the country lifted

The fifth hearing in the trial of journalist Nurcan Yalçınon charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “violating the law on the financing of terrorism,” was held at the Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court on 3 March 2026.

Yalçın and her lawyer Resul Temur were present at the hearing.

The court accepted the request to lift the international travel ban and postponed the case until 22 September 2026.

Prosecutor demands punishment for Furkan Karabay

The fifth hearing in the trial of Furkan Karabay, who is charged with “insulting a public official,” was held at the Ankara 54th Criminal Court of First Instance on 3 March 2026.

Karabay, who is under house arrest, did not attend the hearing, but his lawyer, Onat Doğu Akoluk, was present.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, demanded punishment for impugned crime.

The court postponed the case until 23 June 2026, so that Karabay, who is under house arrest, could submit his defense against the opinion via the judicial videoconferencing system.

At least 27 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 6 March 2026, there are at least 27 journalists and media workers were in prison in Turkey, either awaiting trial or serving finalized sentences.

The full list can be accessed here.