Ender İmrek acquitted of “membership in a terrorist organization”; journalists barred from attending the first hearing in Cihan Berk’s trial; prosecutors demand sentencing for two journalists in two cases

Sabah reporter detained over “school attack” report

Lütfü Yalgı, a reporter for the pro-government newspaper Sabah, was detained in a raid on his home on 16 April in connection with a story he wrote about a school attack in the Siverek district of Şanlıurfa.

The report in question stated that messages the attacker had posted on the school’s social media account the day before the attack, which resulted in 16 injuries, had been reported to the police by school administration, and that the suspect who was detained had been released. The Center for Combating Disinformation had stated that these claims did not reflect the truth.

Yalgı was released after giving his statement.

The trial of journalist Umut Taştan and 50 other defendants adjourned until October

The ninth hearing in the trial of journalist Umut Taştan and 50 others, who were detained while covering the Gezi protests, was held at the Istanbul 44th Criminal Court of First Instance on 16 April 2026.

While the defendants did not attend the hearing, a lawyer was present.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested that all defendants be punished for the impugned crime.

The defense lawyer, objecting to the prosecutor’s final opinion, stated that they did not accept it and requested additional time to submit a written statement.

The trial was adjourned until 15 October 2026.

Journalists barred from attending the first hearing in PİRHA reporter Cihan Berk’s trial

The first hearing in the trial of imprisoned Pir News Agency (PİRHA) reporter Cihan Berk, who is facing charges of “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Tunceli 1st High Criminal Court on 15 April 2026. While journalists were barred from attending the hearing, defense lawyers protested the decision and had the ban recorded in the court minutes.

Berk, who has been in detention since 19 December 2025, faces charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” over social media posts regarding families affiliated with TAYAD, a video he filmed in support of a prisoner on a hunger strike, his correspondence with inmates in prison, and the possession of “banned books” at his home.

Berk participated in the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from the Elazığ High-Security Prison where he is detained, while his lawyers, Kenan Çetin and Doğa İncesu, were present in the courtroom.

Speaking to the press outside the courthouse after the hearing, the lawyers stated that Berk did not accept the charges outlined in the indictment during his defense.

Lawyer Çetin noted that Berk objected to the library he had established at his home being presented as evidence of a crime. Çetin explained that the library was created for the purpose of researching sources regarding lawyer Ebru Timtik, who lost her life during a hunger strike in 2020, and that Berk was working on writing a book about Ebru Timtik.

Following the defenses, the court announced its interim ruling and decided to continue Berk’s detention. The next hearing will take place on 3 June 2026.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Timur Soykan appears in court over social media posts

The first hearing in the trial of journalist Timur Soykan on charges of “spreading false information” and “incitement to commit crim” over two social media posts he shared following operations targeting CHP-run municipalities was held at the Istanbul 32nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 16 April 2026.

Soykan and his lawyer, Enes Ermaner, were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

After his identity was verified, Soykan presented his defense and denied the charges against him. Soykan stated, “I have been a journalist for 27 years; my job is to write news and, as a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, to express my views. In these posts, I expressed my thoughts regarding operations targeting municipalities. This is my constitutional right. However, the charge against me is ‘publicly disseminating misleading information.’ These posts are not information or news. I should not be facing such a charge simply for my opinions. The other charge against me is ‘incitement to commite a crime.’ In my tweets, I stated that the public must protect their rights. I do not understand how this constitutes incitement to commit a crime. I do not accept the charges; I stand by my thoughts. I demand my acquittal.”

The court decided to send the case file to the prosecutor’s office for the preparation of the opinion on the case, and to maintain the international travel ban on Soykan.

The trial was postponed until 16 June 2026.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Ender İmrek acquitted

The trial of six individuals, including journalist Ender İmrek, charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” resumed at the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court on 15 April 2026. The case had been filed as part of the “HDK (Peoples’ Democratic Congress) trials.”

In his defense, Ender İmrek stated that the indictment and the prosecution’s opinion, which echoed it, were based on assumptions, and said, “In particular, every activity related to Kurds has been deemed a crime; this is unacceptable.” İmrek also noted that peace talks with the government are currently underway. İmrek stated that activities and newspaper articles falling under the scope of freedom of expression were being evaluated as criminal offenses, and that this was unacceptable.

The lawyers criticized the indictment, noting that activities falling under the scope of freedom of expression were being treated as crimes. In their defenses, they cited Court of Cassation’s precedents to argue that the elements of the impugned crime were not present.

The court ruled to acquit all defendants.

Prison sentence handed to Zafer Arapkirli

The trial of journalist Zafer Arapkirli, charged with “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” and “spreading false information” resumed at the Istanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 April 2026.

The prosecutor reiterated their previous opinion and requested that Arapkirli be punished for both charges.

In his defense, Arapkirli stated, “I will not defend myself against a crime that does not exist, one that has not even come close to being committed. Here, in the presence of the honorable prosecutor, I wish to report a more serious crime: the crime of dragging the public into a collective and deep darkness.”

Arapkirli claimed that the political regime is targeting independent journalists to obstruct the public’s right to information: “Journalists are being pressured, sometimes through such trials, and at other times through the arrests of figures like İsmail Arı, Alican Uludağ, Merdan Yanardağ, Furkan Karabay, and Sinan Aygül.”

Arapkirli denied the charges and requested an acquittal.

The court acquitted Arapkirli of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility,” citing the absence of the legal elements of the crime.

Regarding the charge of “spreading false information,” he was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, including mitigating factors. The court did not defer the sentence.

Journalist Zafer Arapkirli was on trial over his social media post regarding allegations of massacres targeting Alawites in certain regions during the internal conflicts that erupted in Syria following the overthrow of the Assad regime.

Prosecutor requests additional time in Berivan Kutlu’s case

The third hearing in the case against journalist Berivan Kutlu, who faces charges of “terrorism propaganda” over social media posts she made following the Maraş earthquakes, was held at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court on 14 April 2026.

Berivan Kutlu was not present at the hearing, but her lawyer, Resul Temur, was in attendance. P24 monitored the hearing.

The prosecutor requested more time, stating that they had not been able to prepare their final opinion on the case.

The court granted the request and postponed the case until 16 July 2026.

Prosecutor requests time once again in the case of Hakkı Bostan and Delil Zengeralp

The third hearing in the case, which was filed following the seizure of certain books displayed at the Aram Publishing stand during the 2024 Diyarbakır Book Fair against Hakkı Bostan and publishing house employee Delil Zengeralp on charges of “terrorism propaganda,” was held at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court on 14 April 2026.

Bostan and Zengeralp were absent from the hearing, but their lawyer, Resul Temur, was present. P24 monitored the hearing.

At the hearing on 9 January, the prosecutor had requested additional time to prepare their final opinion on the case. Stating that he had been unable to prepare the opinion during the intervening period, the prosecutor requested an extension again.

The court granted the request and postponed the case until 16 July 2026.

Prison sentence for Hakkı Boltan

The 10th hearing in the case against journalist Hakkı Boltan, charged with “insulting the president” and “insulting a public official,” was held at the Diyarbakır 12th Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 April 2026.

While Boltan did not attend the hearing, his lawyer, Resul Temur, was present.

The prosecution presented their final opinion on the case and requested that Boltan be sentenced.

In his defense against the prosecution’s opinion, lawyer Temur stated that his client’s remarks should be evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression.

Following the defense, the court announced its decision, finding the defendant guilty and sentencing Hakkı Boltan to 1 year, 2 months, and 17 days in prison for the crime of “insulting the president.”

The court ruled that there were no grounds for deferring the sentence.

The trial of Elfazi Toral and Sema Korkmaz adjourned until November

The second hearing in the case against JinNews reporter Elfazi Toral, Democratic Modernity staff member Sema Korkmaz, who were detained while covering a press conference in front of the DEM Party’s Istanbul Provincial Headquarters, and one other person, on charges of “resisting the performance of official duties,” and “participating unarmed in unlawful assemblies and marches and refusing to disperse voluntarily despite a warning” was held at the Istanbul 25th Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 April 2026.

The trial was postponed until 3 November 2026.

Rüstem Batum’s “insulting the president” case adjourned until October

The 10th hearing in the trial of journalist and former talk-show host Rüstem Batum on charges of “insulting the president” was held at the Istanbul 76th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 April 2026.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was postponed until 21 October 2026.

At least 26 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 17 April 2026, there are at least 26 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either awaiting trial or serving finalized sentences.

The full list can be accessed here.