Court rules to keep defendants in prison in “espionage” case; scientist Bülent Şık ordered to pay damages; Reyhan Hacıoğlu sentenced to prison; Ceren Sözeri ordered to pay damages; Koray Kesik given jail term

Resignations at Halk TV one after another

Following the departures of Halk TV’s on-air personalities Seda Selek, Sorel Dağıstanlı, Gözde Şeker, and Buket Güler, Gökmen Karadağ also announced that he would be leaving Halk TV. The journalists stated that they made this decision due to disagreements with the channel’s owner, Cafer Mahiroğlu.

Seda Selek was the first to leave Halk TV. Seda Selek, who hosted the “Sebep Sonuç” program every weekday morning, said “Know that I have very valid reasons” when she left the channel on 30 April.

Finally, on 12 May, Karadağ posted “Goodbye, Halk TV” on his X account.

Indictment filed against imprisoned journalist İsmail Arı

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment against BirGün reporter İsmail Arı, who has been in pre-trial detention at Sincan Prison for 52 days, on suspicion of “spreading false information” and “violating an investigation’s confidentiality.”

The prosecution cited Arı’s statements on a YouTube program and his social media posts as grounds for the charges. The indictment claims that Arı’s statements on the BirGün TV program regarding the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan family’s involvement in the management of 20 foundations and the public funds transferred to these foundations constitute “false information.”

The indictment also cites three separate posts shared by Arı on his social media account as grounds for the charges.

These included a post regarding the news that historical structures on the grounds of the Islamic vocational high school from which President Erdoğan graduated were being demolished; statements about irregularities in the appointment of judges and prosecutors; and a post related to the case known as the “alleged corruption at the Yunus Emre Foundation” that Arı had brought to light.

TRT anchor saying she was “mom of a pet” removed from duty

State-run TRT Main News anchor Işıl Açıkkar has been removed from duty following her remarks, “I am also a ‘pawed’ mom,” made at the end of the May 10 Mother’s Day broadcast. Meanwhile, Sözcü TV reported that an administrative investigation into Açıkkar would also be launched.

Last week, Bosch Turkey used the “mother” metaphor through a dog-owning character in an advertisement it released, and the ad became a topic of debate on social media.

Following this, RTÜK announced that it had launched an investigation into the advertisement.

Cartoon depicting AKP Mayor transferred from CHP deemed “insult to the president”

Sezer Küçükkurt, owner of Kocatepe newspaper, was summoned for questioning on suspicion of “insulting the president” over a cartoon published in his newspaper criticizing Burcu Köksal, the Mayor of Afyonkarahisar who transferred from the CHP to the AKP.

In a written statement regarding the charges against him, Küçükkurt stated, “There is no question of any disrespect or insult toward our esteemed president on my part; it is simply impossible. I respectfully inform the public that I was released after my statement was taken.”

Züleyha Müldür’s trial postponed until July

The fourth hearing in the case filed against Etkin Haber Ajansı (ETHA) reporter Züleyha Müldür and two others on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court on 14 May 2026.

Müldür and her lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

Journalist Müldür requested the return of the seized digital materials and her acquittal.

Müldür’s lawyer, Özge Büşra Boyoğlu, also requested that her client be excused from attending future hearings.

The court rejected Müldür’s request to be excused from attending the hearings on the grounds that witnesses would be heard, but ruled to return the digital materials from which images had been extracted.

The trial was postponed until 7 July 2026.

Barış Terkoğlu’s trials adjourned until January 2027

The 10th hearing in the trial of journalist Barış Terkoğlu, who is charged with “insulting a public official” upon a complaint filed by former Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Hadi Salihoğlu, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 May 2026.

Terkoğlu was not present at the hearing, but his lawyer, Özge Naz Akkaya, was in attendance. P24 monitored the hearing.

The plaintiff Hadi Salihoğlu’s lawyer did not attend the hearing, citing a valid reason.

Lawyer Akkaya requested that the court await the outcome of the case pending before the 5th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

The court accepted the request and adjourned the case until 19 January 2027.

The second hearing in the case of Terkoğlu filed charges of “slander” following a complaint filed by Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor İbrahim Cansever and his wife Ayşe Cansever, over his article titled “Kartalkaya dosyasından gelen koku” (The Smell Coming from the Kartalkaya File) published in the Cumhuriyet newspaper, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 May 2026.

Terkoğlu was absent from the hearing, but his lawyer, Özge Naz Akkaya, was present. P24 monitored the hearing.

Lawyer Akkaya requested a postponement, stating that they were unable to bring their client to court due to professional commitments.

The court granted the request and postponed the case until 19 January 2027.

Scientist Bülent Şık ordered to pay damages in the “Pollen Case”

Scientist Dr. Bülent Şık, who was sued by SBS Bilimsel Bio Çözümler Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., the owner of the BEE’O brand, over public health warnings regarding the uncontrolled consumption of pollen, honey, propolis, herbal teas, and similar products during the pandemic, had his final hearing in the “Pollen Case” was held at the Anadolu 2nd Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Court on 14 May 2026.

Şık and his lawyer Abbas Yalçın were present in the courtroom. Gerçek Gündem news site, which is among the defendants, was represented by lawyer Bilge Batur.

The plaintiff company’s lawyer, Büşra Özdemir, argued that Şık acted with the intent to defame and requested the case be accepted. Şık’s lawyer, Abbas Yalçın, however, pointed out procedural errors in the case and requested its dismissal. Yalçın stated, “My client wrote these articles with the aim of protecting public health and children’s health.”

Gerçek Gündem’s lawyer, Bilge Batur, also stated that there was no trademark infringement. Batur argued, “The news reports are in compliance with the law. Sharing news related to public health with the public is in the public interest. There is no infringement,” and requested the case be dismissed.

The court rendered its decision without adjourning. The judge ruled to partially grant and partially dismiss the case, determined that the defendants had engaged in unfair competition regarding the plaintiff company’s trademark rights. The court also ordered the payment of TL 50,000 in compensatory damages and TL 1 in moral damages, as well as the removal of the news articles, essays, and posts in question.

The lawyers will appeal the case.

Reyhan Hacıoğlu sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison

The final hearing in the case filed against journalist Reyhan Hacıoğlu on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” (TCK 314/2) as part of an Istanbul-based investigation, was held at the Van 2nd High Criminal Court. P24 covered the hearing on 14 May 2026.

During the hearing, Hacıoğlu’s lawyers, Resul Temur and Nazmi Ayaz, presented their defense against the prosecution’s final arguments. The lawyers argued that the charges against Hacıoğlu were based on her journalistic activities, program content, interviews with news sources, and the platforms through which her work was published, and they requested an acquittal.

After hearing the defenses, the court panel announced its decision, sentencing Hacıoğlu not for the crime of “membership in a terrorist organization,” but for “knowingly and willingly aiding the organization without being part of its hierarchical structure” to 4 years and 2 months in prison.

The court ruled that there was no basis for applying provisions regarding suspension or deferral of the sentence. It also decided to maintain the international travel ban on Hacıoğlu.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Singer Ferhat Tunç's “terrorism” case adjourned until December

The18th hearing in the trial of singer Ferhat Tunç, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda,” was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 14 May 2026.

The court decided to wait for the arrest warrant issued for Tunç to be executed.

The trial was adjourned until 10 September 2026.

Trial begins for 28 defendants, including three journalists

The trial of 28 individuals, including Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Zeynep Durgut, JinNews reporter Derya Ren, and Ajasa Welat reporter Mahmut Altıntaş, began on charges of “resisting the performance of duty” and “participating in an unlawful assembly and demonstration without weapons and refusing to disperse despite a warning” was held at the Silopi Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 May 2026.

Derya Ren and Zeynep Durgut participated in the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system (SEGBİS), while Mahmut Altıntaş will be heard at the next session.

Durgut, who defended herself via SEGBİS, stated, “I am a journalist. A case has been filed against me, along with two other journalists, for ‘obstructing the performance of duty.’ It is not us but the police who failed to perform their duties. We do not accept this charge. It was the police who failed to perform their duties there. We were there to report the news. I am filing a complaint against those who broke our equipment and dragged us on the ground. I demand an acquittal.”

The trial was postponed to a later date.

Ceren Sözeri ordered to pay compensation

The final hearing for the TL 200,000 compensation lawsuit filed by Serhat Albayrak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkuvaz Media Group, against the Evrensel newspaper’s wrtier Ceren Cözeri was held at the Istanbul 2nd Civil Commercial Court on 13 May 2026.

Sözeri and her lawyer, Devrim Avcı, were present in the courtroom.

In her defense, academic Sözeri stated, “I am an academic at Galatasaray University and have been teaching a course on freedom of expression for years. The article in question falls within the scope of freedom of expression. I do not have the power to damage his commercial reputation. I request that this case be dismissed.”

Ceren Sözeri’s laeyer, Devrim Avcı, added, “My client evaluated how the election results were covered in the media. This publication pertains to an assessment of local election results within the context of press freedom and freedom of expression, and contains no statements or words that constitute an infringement of the plaintiff’s personal rights. We request the dismissal of the case.”

Serhat Albayrak’s lawyer, in his closing statement, requested that the case be accepted, while Ceren Sözeri’s lawyer requested that the case be dismissed.

The court partially accepted the case and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding a total of TL 20,000 in moral damages.

Rüstem Batum's “insulting the president” case adjourned until December

The fifth hearing in the case against journalist Rüstem Batum, who is charged with “insulting the president” over two posts he shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, was held at the İstanbul 60th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 May 2026.

Batum did not attend the hearing, but his lawyer, Batıkan Erkoç, was present in the courtroom.

The court decided to continue the arrest warrant against Batum and adjourned the case until 22 December 2026.

Singer Ferhat Tunç's trial adjourned until September

The 24th hearing in the trial of singer Ferhat Tunç on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” was held at the Büyükçekmece 4th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 May 2026.

No one attended the hearing.

The trial was adjourned until 16 September 2026.

Prison sentence for Koray Kesik, cinematographer of the “Bakur” documentary

The second hearing in the trial of Koray Kesik, cinematographer of the “Bakur” documentary, on charges of “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Batman 2nd High Criminal Court on 12 May 2026.

Kesik and his lawyer, Emine Özhasar, were present at the hearing.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested that Koray Kesik be punished for the crime he is accused of.

Kesik’s lawyer, Emine Özhasar, stated in her response to the prosecutor’s opinion: “My client is an independent, freelance cinematographer. That is why he was part of this team. The ‘Bakur Notes’ book found in the home and mentioned in the indictment is banned, but possessing a banned book at home is not a crime. I request my client’s acquittal,” she said.

The court sentenced Kesik to 1 year and 13 months in prison on charges of “terrorism propaganda.”

Reatrial of Taraf case adjourned until December

The eighth hearing in the retrial of former executives of the closed Taraf newspaper Ahmet Altan, Yasemin Çongar, Yıldıray Oğur, and reporter Mehmet Baransu on charges of “using documents related to state security for purposes other than their intended purpose, obtaining them by fraud” and “disclosing and obtaining documents related to state security that should remain confidential” was held at the Anadolu 2nd Criminal Court of Firs Instance on 11 May 2025.

The imprisoned defendant Baransu joined the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from the prison where he is being held.

Regarding the suitcase containing documents, Baransu said, “I brought it to the newspaper, called the prosecutor’s office, and the police took it away. The CDs containing the Egemen Operation Plan were in the suitcase. We never saw those documents.”

The court adjourned the case until 14 December 2026.

Court rules to continue the imprisonment of Merdan Yanardağ and Ekrem İmamoğlu in “espionage” case

The first hearing in the “political espionage” trial against veteran journalist and former TELE1 editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardağ, businessman Hüseyin Gün, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and campaign director Necati Özkan was held on 11, 12 and 13 May 2026 at the Marmara Prison Complex in Istanbul's Silivri district. All defendants rejected the accusations as politically motivated and legally unfounded.

The case centers on allegations that the defendants engaged in “political espionage” through media activity, election-related communications, and contacts attributed to businessman Hüseyin Gün. A large part of the 160-page indictment relies on digital correspondence, phone records, and statements by Gün, who prosecutors claim sought to benefit from provisions on "effective remorse."

Presenting his defense on the opening day of the trial, İmamoğlu said he would not provide a detailed response to what he described as an irrational espionage accusation, arguing that he and “hundreds of families” had long been subjected to systematic pressure and injustice. He described the imprisonment of himself, Yanardağ, and Özkan on espionage charges as something that could not be explained “by law, reason, or conscience.”

Hüseyin Gün also rejected the accusations, saying he had returned to Turkey for an artificial intelligence investment and had neither obtained nor shared confidential state information. He claimed he had worked abroad on behalf of the Turkish state following the 15 July 2016 coup attempt and submitted documents to the court through his lawyer regarding activities allegedly conducted against the Fethullah Gülen network. Gün said he had met İmamoğlu only once and that his contact with Özkan was limited to a social media analysis presentation prepared during the election period.

During the second hearing session on 12 May, monitored by P24, Yanardağ strongly criticized the indictment, arguing that it criminalized ordinary democratic and journalistic activity. “It criminalizes participating in elections, winning elections, making television broadcasts, and engaging in political criticism,” Yanardağ said, adding that the case effectively treated electoral victory itself as a crime.

Rejecting the allegation that he conducted a “perception operation” in favor of İmamoğlu through TELE1 broadcasts, Yanardağ mocked the espionage accusations by saying he had “never seen espionage carried out on a live television broadcast.” He also argued that the case was intended to suppress critical media and prolong the ruling party’s hold on power, stating that “TELE1 did not bow down.”

On 13 May, the prosecutor announced their final opinion on the case and requested the court to continue the detentions.

The court decided to keep all defendants in detention and adjourned the trial until 6 July 2026.

Yanardağ’s detention had raised eyebrows as hours after his detention—and before any judicial review—the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as trustee to TELE1’s parent company. The appointed trustee, İbrahim Paşalı, was a former columnist for pro-government newspapers Milli Gazete and Yeni Şafak and had previously managed other seized media entities, such as Flash Haber and the Habertürk/Show TV group. TELE1 was recently put up for sale for TL 28 million (525,000 euros), with critics arguing that the espionage prosecution was used to justify TELE1's takeover.

Click here to read the details of the article.

At least 26 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 15 May 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.