Şanlıurfa journalist imprisoned over deleted social media post; Council of State overturns fine imposed by RTÜK on NOW TV; two journalists given prison term in two cases

Şanlıurfa journalist imprisoned over deleted social media post

Journalist Mehmet Yetim, editor-in-chief of the Şanlıurfa-based local news outlet Kulis TV, was imprisoned pending trial on 18 April 2026 for “spreading false information” over a social media post about an incident at a school that he later deleted.

Yetim was detained at his home in Şanlıurfa and transferred to the courthouse following police procedures. After giving his statement to prosecutors, he was referred to the on-duty criminal court of peace with a request for arrest. The court ordered his pre-trial detention, citing the insufficiency of judicial control measures. The investigation was initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of Siverek district under Article 217/A of the Turkish Criminal Code, which criminalizes “publicly disseminating misleading information.”

The case stems from a post Yetim shared on X on 17 April regarding an alleged knife attack at Siverek’s Dumlupınar Elementary School by a parent, which he claimed had left the school’s deputy principal injured. He later deleted the post and issued a corrected version based on a statement from the Şanlıurfa Governor’s Office, saying that a parent had been detained by police officers after displaying “suspicious behavior” at the school and that no one was harmed during the incident. However, after a screenshot of the original post circulated widely on social media and messaging groups, authorities launched an investigation, leading to his detention.

In his statement, Yetim said the information he had shared was based on reports published by other news outlets, that he corrected the post shortly after realizing the error, and that there had been no malicious intent.

The incident came on the heels of a school shooting on 14 April in Siverek that left 16 people injured and the attacker, a former student of the school, dead.

Nedim Oruç released pending trial

The first hearing in the trial of Ajansa Welat reporter Nedim Oruç, who was arrested while covering news in the Cizre district of Şırnak and subsequently imprisoned pending triial on 17 January, and 17 others was held at the Şırnak 1st High Criminal Court on 24 April 2026. The defendants are charged with “resisting the performance of official duties,” “damaging public property,” “unauthorized possession of hazardous materials,” and “terrorism propaganda.”

Oruç and the other 17 detainees were present at the hearing. The hearing was observed by representatives of the Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association (DFG), political parties, and democratic mass organizations.

The hearing began with the identification of the defendants. Oruç stated that he was a reporter for Ajansa Welat and that he had been detained while carrying out journalistic activities. Oruç claimed that the police insulted him when he was detained, adding that despite his insistence that he was a journalist, the police demanded he move away, and he was detained as he was moving away.

Oruç’s lawyer, Resul Temur, emphasized that Oruç is a journalist, stating, “The court asked about the posts on Channel 8. The footage in question is part of a news report conducted within the scope of an invitation regarding the PKK’s call for withdrawal in Sulaymaniyah. A large number of journalists were invited to this event, and my client, Nedim Oruç, is one of them. The Channel 8 footage included in the case file is entirely the product of this news coverage. The same news story was also published by the Welat Agency. All of my client’s activities fall within the scope of journalistic work and do not contain any criminal elements.”

Following the defenses, the court panel announced its decision and ordered the release of journalist Oruç along with 19 others.

The next hearing will take place on 25 June 2026.

The indictment cites as evidence for the charges the finding that a fingerprint on a magazine matched Oruç’s, social media posts and videos, footage related to the allegation that he participated in the protests in Cizre, as well as photographs and recordings found in digital materials.

The Council of State overturns fine imposed by RTÜK on NOW TV

The 13th Chamber of the Council of State has overturned the administrative fine imposed by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) over remarks by journalist Çiğdem Toker, ruling that it was unlawful. The decision was evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression.

RTÜK had fined the channel over remarks Toker made during the 2023 election night on the “Orta Sayfa” program, which aired on Fox TV (now known as NOW TV), specifically the statement, “Democracy is not just about the ballot box.” RTÜK had argued that these statements violated the principle in broadcasting regulations stating that content “must not incite the public to hatred or hostility.” The channel had appealed the penalty decision to the Council of State.

Lawsuit filed against Nefes reporter on three charges

A lawsuit has been filed against Nefes newspaper reporter Mahir Bağış on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility,” “spreading false information,” and “insult” over a news story he wrote about Batman Governor Ekrem Canalp.

The preliminary hearing for the case, which was filed over the article titled “He Had a 19 Million Lira Project Done but Didn’t Pay a Single Lira” published in Nefes newspaper, was held at the Ankara West 15th Criminal Court of First Instance.

During the hearing, Bağış, who presented his defense, stated, “I have been a journalist for five years. I believe what I did was simply reporting the news. I absolutely do not accept the charges brought against me.”

The article alleged that during the tenure of Batman Governor Ekrem Canalp, no payment was made for a TL 19 million project carried out by a businessman named Hakkı Şahin. The article noted that Şahin had gone bankrupt as a result and was unable to collect payment for the work from the municipality.

Lawsuit filed against Öznur Değer

A new case has been filed against Öznur Değer, News Director of JinNews, on charges of “resisting the performance of duty” and “insult” for protesting her arrest under torture during a raid on her home in the Turkey’s southeastern Kızıltepe district of Mardin on 7 February 2025.

The indictment filed by the Kızıltepe Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office was accepted by the Kızıltepe 6th Criminal Court of First Instance. Meanwhile, a case has also been filed against Değer’s mother and sister on charges of “resisting the performance of duty.”

The first hearing will take place at the Kızıltepe 6th Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 July.

Mehmet Üçar handed jail term

The fifth hearing in the trial of journalist Mehmet Üçar on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Batman 2nd High Criminal Court on 24 April 2026,

The court sentenced Üçar to 1 year, 6 months, and 11 days in prison for the crime of “terrorism propaganda,” and deferred the sentence.

Üçar was on trial over articles he wrote for Yeni Özgür Politika and PolitikArt.

Neşe İdil given prison sentence once again in retrial

The second hearing in the retrial of journalist Neşe İdil, who faces charges of “terrorism propaganda” following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on a violation, took place at the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court on 22 April 2026.

Lawyer Didare Hazal Sümeli noted that the investigation was initiated based on a complaint filed with the Presidential Communications Center (CİMER) and stated that this was contrary to the law. Sümeli emphasized that İdil is a journalist and that the statements in question should be evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression.

The court ruled to reimpose the 1 year and 3-month prison sentence that had been issued prior to the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the violation. The right to appeal the decision remains open.

Hazal Ocak to pay compensation to Berat Albayrak

The final hearing in the compensation case filed by former Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak against Hazal Ocak, a former reporter for the Cumhuriyet newspaper, seeking TL 200,000 in damages, was held at the Istanbul 33rd Civil Court of First Instance on 22 April 2026.

The court ordered Ocak to pay TL 10,000 in damages and noted that the right to appeal remains open.

Prosecutor demands sentencing for Tuğçe yılmaz

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz , who is facing the charges of “publicly denigrating the Republic of Turkey” over an article titled “Türkiyeli Ermeni gençler anlatıyor: 109 yıldır süren yas” (Armenian Youth in Turkey Speak Out: 109 Years of Mourning) published on bianet, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 21 April 2026.

Yılmaz and her lawyer, Deniz Yazgan, were present in the courtroom. P24 monitored the hearing.

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

Yılmaz and his lawyer Yazgan requested time to prepare a defense against the prosecutor’s opinion. The court granted the request and adjourned the case until 20 October 2026.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Metin Cihan's trial adjourned until September

The 13th hearing in the lawsuit filed against journalist Metin Cihan on the charge of “insulting a public official” upon the complaint of former Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak was held at the İstanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance on 21 April 2026.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was adjourned until 29 September 2026.

At least 27 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 24 April 2026, there are at least 27 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either awaiting trial or serving finalized sentences.

The full list can be accessed here.