Two journalists released from prison; jail terms handed on Nazlı Ilıcak and Ahmet Altan; presiding judge seeks to relocate the journalists, adjourns case when they refused in trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu

Presiding judge seeks to relocate the journalists, adjourns case when they refused in trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu

The first hearing in the “corruption” trial, in which 401 defendants, including the CHP’s jailed presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, continued on its fourth day on 12 March at the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court.

After a recess during the hearing, the presiding judge sought to have the journalists move to the back of the courtroom. The journalists, however, refused to leave their seats.

Imamoğlu reacted to the decision, stating, “There is already significant censorship outside.” The presiding judge called a 10-minute recess to clear the courtroom and restore order.

The journalists remained in their seats and protested the decision. The presiding judge postponed the trial until Monday, 16 March, citing the “failure to maintain order.”

Merve Şişman’s trial postponed

The hearing in the trial of journalist Merve Şişman, who is facing charges of “inciting the people to hatred and hostility” and “spreading false information” was held at the Ankara Courthouse on 13 March 2026.

Şişman’s trial, stemming from a news story titled “Savunma sanayi şirketine düğün salonu yaptırdılar” (They Had a Wedding Hall Built for a Defense Industry Company) was postponed until a later date.

The compensation case filed against Evrensel postponed

The hearing in the TL 500,000 moral damages lawsuit filed against the Evrensel newspaper was held at the Küçükçekmece Civil Court of First Instance 12 March 2026.

The trial was postponed until 6 May 2026.

The lawsuit was filed over a news article published in the newspaper on 1 July 2025, titled “Dev inşaat firması İris İnşaat’ın işçilere aylardır ücretini ödemediği iddia edildi” (It was alleged that the major construction firm Iris İnşaat has not paid its workers’ wages for months.)

Mutlu Çölgeçen released from prison

Journalist Mutlu Çölgeçen was released from prison on 12 March.

In March 2018, the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court sentenced 23 defendants (Abdullah Kılıç, Ahmet Memiş, Ali Akkuş, Bayram Kaya, Bünyamin Köseli, Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Cihan Acar, Cuma Ulus, Gökçe Fırat Çulhaoğlu, Habip Güler, Halil İbrahim Balta, Hanım Büşra Erdal, Hüseyin Aydın, Muhammed Sait Kuloğlu, Mustafa Erkan Acar, Mutlu Çölgeçen, Oğuz Usluer, Seyid Kılıç, Ufuk Şanlı, Ünal Tanık, Yakup Çetin, Yetkin Yıldız and teacher Davut Aydın) of the 26 defendants to prison on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization.”

On 22 October 2018, the 2nd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals rejected the journalists' appeals and ruled that the defendants in custody should remain in custody.

Enver Aysever released from prison, handed jail term

The first hearing in the trial of journalist Enver Aysever on charges of “inciting the people to hatred and hostility” over statements he made about rightists in a video shared on his YouTube channel, was held at the Küçükçekmece 30th Criminal Court of First Instance on 12 March 2026.

Aysever was brought to the hearing from Marmara Closed Prison, where he is being held. Aysever's lawyer, Mikayil Dilbaz, was also present in the courtroom. P24 monitored the hearing.

After his identity was verified, Aysever began his defense, stating, “In my speech, I did not intend to incite the two social classes in Turkey, the right and the left, against each other; on the contrary, my speech was an objective assessment.”

Aysever's lawyer, Mikayil Dilbaz, said, “It is a bad indictment, but I respect it. There was no imminent and clear danger arose from Aysever’s statements. The material elements of the crime attributed to my client have not been established. For these reasons, we request an acquittal and release.”

The prosecutor requested that Aysever be punished for the crime he was accused of and be released.

The court sentenced Aysever to 10 months in prison for the impugned crime and suspended the sentence. It was decided that Aysever would be released upon sentencing.

Prison sentences handed to Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak

The second hearing in the retrial of journalists Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak on charges of “aiding an illegal organization without being a member” following the Court of Cassation’s decision to overturn their convictions, was held at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court on 12 March 2026.

Ilıcak and the defendants' lawyers were present at the hearing, while Altan did not attend. P24 monitored the hearing.

Nazlı Ilıcak, presenting her defense against the prosecutor’s opinion, claimed she was innocent and requested acquittal. Ilıcak said, “First of all, I request that you acquit me or, if you disagree, give me a sentence that will not cause me to return to prison.”

The court sentenced Ilıcak to 3 years and 9 months and Altan to 4 years and 6 months in prison for the impugned crime. The decision was unanimous.

Trial of İsminaz Temel and Havva Cuştan adjourned

The 33rd hearing in the trial of 23 people, including ETHA editor İsminaz Temel and its former reporter Havva Cuştan, on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda,” was held at the İstanbul 27th High Criminal Court on 11 March 2026.

The trial was adjourned until 3 July 2026.

Prosecutor demands sentencing for Zafer Arapkirli

The third hearing in the trial of journalist Zafer Arapkirli on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” and “spreading false information” over his social media posts, was held at the Istanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance on 10 March 2026.

Arapkirli and his lawyers did not attend the hearing, citing reasons for their absence.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested that Arapkirli be punished for both charges against him.

The court accepted the excuse of Arapkirli's lawyers but rejected their requests to hear witnesses on the grounds that they would not affect the substance of the case. The court gave Arapkirli and his lawyers a final opportunity to prepare their defense against the opinion before the next hearing, and postponed the case until 27 March 2026.

At least 25 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 13 March 2026, following the release of journalists Enver Aysever and Mutlu Çölgeçen, there are now at least 25 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either awaiting trial or serving finalized sentences.

The full list can be accessed here.