RTÜK imposes fine on SÖZCÜ TV and Halk TV; Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu targets Halk TV; Nefes reporter acquitted; Esra Solin Dal and Mehmet Aslan acquitted, Erdoğan Alayumat given jail term

Sale of TELE 1 suspended

The Saving Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF) has suspended the tender for the sale of the TELE 1 television channel, which it had taken over by appointing a trustee.

TELE 1’s main news presenter, Murat Taylan, announced the decision on his social media account. Taylan stated that the TMSF had withdrawn the sale process, noting that the suspension of the tender was based on Article 28 of the regulations, titled “Suspension or Postponement of Sale.” Taylan also recalled that TELE 1 had been put up for sale with an estimated value of TL 28 million, that the tender had been published in the Official Gazette in April, and that it was scheduled to take place on 19 June.

Taylan also noted that the TMSF could open a new tender in the future or decide to liquidate the company.

Following TELE 1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ being imprisoned pending trial as part of a “spying” investigation, the TMSF was appointed as trustee for ABC Radio Television and Digital Broadcasting Inc. and TELE1 Production Media and Advertising Services Industry and Trade Limited Company. Last month, the TMSF put TELE 1 up for sale via an open tender process at a price of TL 28 million, setting 16 June 2026 as the deadline for submitting bids.

As the tender notice did not include any specific provisions regarding outstanding wages, some employees filed a lawsuit at the Istanbul 11th Administrative Court seeking the cancellation of the tender, arguing that their wage claims must be protected.

RTÜK imposes fine on SÖZCÜ TV and Halk TV

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has imposed a 1 percent administrative fine on SÖZCÜ TV and Halk TV.

RTÜK imposed a 1 percent administrative fine on SÖZCÜ TV over statements made by Özgür Özel, the elected General Chairman of the CHP, during an interview on the channel. RTÜK stated that Özel had said regarding Justice Minister Akın Gürlek: “There is an encrypted phone among you; he is speaking to Erdoğan via an encrypted phone. Think about it, he is providing information regarding the entire judicial process via an encrypted phone. If Mr. Erdoğan has not heard this, I am reporting it. I am reporting that he has made numerous statements via an encrypted phone with Erdoğan—half true, half false—that he received instructions directly from him, that he recorded these, and that he said, ‘They cannot do anything to me in future; I am recording Erdoğan’s voice.’ I am stating this quite clearly. If they say these things did not happen, let them come forward and deny it,” and argued that such assessments “hinder the free formation of public opinion.”

Halk TV was also fined 1 percent of its turnover on the grounds of breaching the “principle of truth and accuracy” due to comments made by İbrahim Kahveci and İsmail Saymaz on the programme “Para Siyaset,” broadcast on Halk TV, where they discussed possible election scenarios and stated that “there is concern that elections may not take place in Turkey.”

CHP adviser targets journalists

Hüseyin Doğan, an adviser to Müslim Sarı—the Party Spokesperson for CHP’s appointed General Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu—targeted journalist Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu by saying, “Of course you are receiving a yellow envelope; that is why you ask such questions.”

Sarı held a press conference on 11 June regarding the Party Council agenda. Following the meeting, whilst Sarı was chatting with journalists, his adviser Hüseyin Doğan caused a stir by remarking, referring to journalist Yazıcıoğlu, “She receives a yellow envelope, so of course she asks such questions.”

Journalists present at the CHP headquarters at the time reacted to these remarks, saying, “We know each other; who are you? If you have such an allegation, go to court, and prove it. Come out and explain; let us find out who is taking bribes. Everyone here works for a living. Everyone receives their salary from their institution.”

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu targets Halk TV

Cafer Mahiroğlu, Chairman of the Halk TV Board of Directors, responded via his social media account to the remarks made by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the appointed General Chairman of the CHP, who had targeted the channel during a statement at the CHP headquarters.

Kılıçdaroğlu had stated: “There are some television channels whose owners are in London and lack the courage to come to Turkey. Just as delegates are bought and sold for money, television channels should not be bought and sold for money either. I will put a stop to that, I will put a stop to that.

In a statement on his social media account, Mahiroğlu responded as follows: “Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu is directly targeting Halk TV and me, singling us out. He is sending a message to certain quarters. This channel is under the protection of Halk TV viewers and the laws of the Republic of Turkey. Halk TV will under no circumstances abandon the principle of independent and democracy-oriented broadcasting.”

Threats against a journalist from the AKP district chairman in Çorum

In Çorum, journalist Elvan Yılmaz filed a complaint with the Çorum Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against AKP Çorum Central District Chairman Mustafa Alagöz, alleging “threats”

Yılmaz, the proprietor of Rota Çorum, claimed that Alagöz had threatened him following news articles published on 8 and 9 June.

In a report on 8 June, Yılmaz had written that AKP Mecitözü District Chairman Haşim Atmaca had been removed from his post, and that discussions regarding changes in leadership at some district branches in Çorum were taking place within party circles. The report also included the allegation that AKP Çorum Central District Chairman Mustafa Alagöz was among those expected to be removed from their posts.

In another report, Yılmaz had relayed behind-the-scenes information suggesting that Alagöz intended to step down from his role as Central District Chairman to take up a seat on the Provincial Assembly, and subsequently seek support for the position of Provincial Assembly Chairman.

Pro-government news sites target MA reporter

Pro-government news sites Ensonhaber and Akit targeted Sema Bingöl, a reporter for the Mezopotamya Agency who was detained and later released in Ankara, and her family. The sites presented all the news stories Bingöl had covered as “criminal records.”

According to reports on the websites, 15 actions and events covered by Sema Bingöl in 2026 were listed as “criminal records”. Ensonhaber and Akit criminalised the coverage of events such as May Day and Newroz, as well as actions and events organised by the DEM Party, Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) and Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), thereby targeting Bingöl.

Trial of five journalists adjourned until November

The sixth hearing in the trial of journalists Barış Pehlivan, Suat Toktaş, Seda Selek, Kürşad Oğuz and Serhan Asker, who are facing charges of “broadcasting recorded conversations via the press” and “recording private conversations between individuals” in connection with a report aired on Halk TV regarding the expert witness S.B., a matter raised by the imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, was held at the Istanbul 54th Criminal Court on 12 June 2026. 

The defendants were absent from the hearing, but their lawyers were present. P24 monitored the hearing.

Kürşad Oğuz’s lawyer, Beliz Özkan, requested that her client be heard again in court to resolve the contradictions in the case file.

Seda Selek’s lawyer, Buse Şahin, stated that her client was being tried due to her role as moderator on the program broadcast at the time in question, and argued that the elements and characteristics of the impugned crime had not been established. Şahin requested her client’s acquittal.

The court decided to reject the request for journalist Kürşad Oğuz to be heard again, on the grounds that it would “not add anything new to the case file.”

The prosecutor requested that the case file be sent to the relevant authority so that they could submit their final opinion on the case.

The court decided to refer the case to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and adjourned the case until 20 November 2026.

Nefes reporter acquitted

The third hearing in the case filed against Nefes newspaper reporter Nisanur Yıldırım upon a complaint by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on charges of “insulting a public official” was held at the Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 11 June 2026.

At the hearing, which was monitored by P24, Yıldırım’s lawyer Melike Kara, and the lawyer representing Mehmet Nuri Ersoy were present. Yıldırım did not attend the hearing.

Ersoy’s lawyer stated that their complaints remain valid and requested that Yıldırım be punished.

In their final opinion on the case submitted at the previous hearing, the prosecutor had claimed that Yıldırım committed the impugned crime and demanded punishment. Kara, Yıldırım’s lawyer, who presented the defense against the opinion, stated, “There is no statement in the news report that constitutes a crime. It is entirely a journalistic activity; we request that our client be acquitted.”

The court ruled that the elements of the crime of ”insulting a public official" were not present and acquitted Nisanur Yıldırım.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Prosecutor seeks punishment for journalist Şahin

The seventh hearing in the retrial of journalist Mehmet Şahin, who is facing charges of “membership of a terrorist organization” due to his participation in meetings and press conferences, his interviews with news sources, and the TV programs he produced, was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 11 June 2026.

Şahin and his lawyer, Resul Temur, were present at the hearing.

The prosecutor, who presented their final opinion on the case at the hearing, requested that Şahin be sentenced for the impugned crime. The indictment, in which Shahin’s journalistic activities were deemed to constitute “elements of a crime,” included statements from a confidential witness named “Ulaş.” In the indictment, in which Şahin’s meetings with numerous individuals—including journalists and politicians—were deemed “criminal,” several actions and events he is alleged to have participated in were also subject to charges.

Şahin and his lawyer, Temur, requested time to prepare a defense against the prosecutor’s opinion. The court accepted the request and adjourned the case until 8 September 2026.

Erdoğan Alayumat sentenced to prison

The seventh hearing in the case filed against journalists Esra Solin Dal, Mehmet Aslan and Erdoğan Alayumat, who are charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court on 9 June 2026.

The journalists did not attend the hearing, but their lawyers were present. P24 monitored the hearing.

Erdoğan Alayumat’s lawyer, Hazal Sümeli, stated that her client’s journalistic activities were being presented as grounds for the charges in the case file.

Ayşe Özdemir, the lawyer for Esra Solin Dal, also stated in her defense that her client’s professional activities were cited as the basis for the charges against her.

Habat Demircan, the lawyer for Mehmet Aslan, argued in his defense, “The elements of the offense of membership in a terrorist organization have not been established. There is no definitive and concrete evidence regarding membership in the case file. The scope of the case is entirely related to journalistic activities,” and requested an acquittal.

The court, which ruled to acquit Esra Solin Dal and Mehmet Aslan, sentenced Erdoğan Alayumat to 1 year and 3 months in prison on charges of “terrorism propaganda.” The sentence was deferred.

Click here to read the details of the article.

At least 21 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 12 June 2026, there are at least 21 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either awaiting trial or serving finalized sentences.

The full list can be accessed here.