Yıldız Tar jailed ahead of NATO summit; Evrensel's Doğa Baskan jailed; RTÜK imposes fines on Halk TV and Koza TV; case against Furkan Karabay and Faruk Eren dismissed

Journalist Yıldız Tar jailed as part of operations relating to the NATO Summit

One hundred and three people, including Kaos GL Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, were imprisoned pending trial on 25 June ahead of the NATO Sunmit to be held in Ankara.

In operations carried out on 23 June by teams from the Ankara Police Department and the Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie Command, acting on instructions from the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office ahead of the NATO Summit, 225 people were taken into custody. The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the investigation was being conducted “with the aim of uncovering the activities of terrorist organizations across the country.”

According to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, 135 of the 225 suspects taken into custody were transferred to AnkaraCourthouse following the completion of procedures. Whilst the prosecution released six suspects, 129 individuals were brought before the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for their imprisonment on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.”

The court decided to send 103 of the suspects referred to it to pre-trial detention. Judicial supervision measures were imposed on 26 individuals. Among those placed in pre-trial detention were Nevzat Özer, The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion’s (TEMA) Ankara Representative; Assoc. Prof. Dr Emel Memiş Parmaksız, a lecturer in the Department of Economics at Ankara University; Yıldız Tar, Editor-in-Chief of Kaos GL and journalist; and lawyers Semra Demir and Kürşat Bafra.

Evrensel reporter Doğa Baskan jailed

Doğa Baskan, a reporter for the Evrensel newspaper, was imprisoned pending trial on 25 June over a news article that had been removed from the evrensel.net website.

Baskan, who went to the public prosecutor’s office with his lawyers in the early hours of the morning to give a statement, was sent to prison on charges of “spreading false information.”

Baskan was arrested over a text that had been sent to the newsroom as a news draft in recent days but was inadvertently posted on the evrensel.net news site and removed immediately after it was noticed.

RTÜK imposes fines on Halk TV and Koza TV

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has imposed administrative fines of 1 percent each on Halk TV and Koza TV. The reason given was the violation of the broadcasting ban decision issued by the Batman 2nd Criminal Judgeship of Peace.

According to the Council’s decision, the reporting by Halk TV and Koza TV in their news bulletins dated 19–20 June 2026 on the parliamentary question raised by DEM Party Batman MP Zeynep Oduncu Kutevi regarding allegations of ill-treatment at a private care center operating in Batman was deemed grounds for the fine.

RTÜK stated that the two channels had breached the broadcasting ban order issued by the Batman 2nd Criminal Judgeship of Peace on 3 June 2026 and, by a majority vote, decided to impose an administrative fine of 1 percent on both Halk TV and Koza TV.

Arrest warrant issued for Radio Sputnik presenter Ali Çağatay

An arrest warrant has been issued against Radio Sputnik presenter Ali Çağatay on charges of “spreading false information” and “insulting state institutions and organs” over a social media post he shared regarding the alleged abduction and torture of Erhan Karaal, Deputy General Manager of İBB Kültür A.Ş., outside his home last week.

In his post on X, Çağatay had alleged that certain police officers were involved in the abduction.

Former RTÜK Chairman Şahin files damages claim against BirGün

Ebubekir Şahin, CEO of Türk Telekom and former Chairman of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), has filed a TL 100,000 damages claim against İbrahim Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the BirGün newspaper, and its reporter İsmail Arı.

Şahin brought the case in response to a report published in BirGün on 31 January, signed by İsmail Arı, which alleged that “Ebubekir Şahin’s daughter had been appointed as a civil servant at the Competition Authority via an exceptional recruitment process without sitting an exam.” Meanwhile, Şahin has had access to some of his social media posts blocked following a decision by a criminal judgeship of peace.

Journalist Yıldız Tar’s travel ban once again kept in place

The third hearing in the trial of journalist Yıldız Tar, Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org, and writer İbrahim Halit Elçi, who are being tried on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of an investigation into the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), was held at the Ankara 17th High Criminal Court on 24 June 2026.

Tar was unable to attend the hearing as he had been detained during house raids in Ankara on 23 June, whilst his lawyers were present in the courtroom. P24 monitored the hearing.

Tar’s lawyers requested the lifting of the international travel ban and other judicial supervision measures. When the judge asked for the prosecutor’s opinion on this request, the prosecutor stated that the travel ban and all judicial supervision measures should continue as before.

The court ruled that the judicial supervision measures and the travel ban should continue. The court ruled that should the prosecution submit its final opinion on the case until next hearing, this would be served upon the defendants and their lawyers, and adjourned the case until 24 November 2026. Should the prosecution submit its final opinion before this date, the hearing on 24 November is expected to be the sentencing hearing.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Hakkari-based journalist Kahraman acquitted in retrial

The final hearing in the retrial of Hakkari-based journalist İskender Kahraman, who was charged with “terrorism propaganda,” (TMK 7/2), was held in Ankara on 23 June 2026.

The court acquitted Kahraman.

Speaking after the hearing, Kahraman stated that the trial had initially begun under the charge of “insulting the Turkish nation.” Kahraman explained that, following the Ministry of Justice’s refusal to grant permission for an investigation, the local court had appealed the decision, after which the case was referred back to the retrial process on different charges.

The case against Furkan Karabay and Faruk Eren for “insulting a public official” dismissed

The sixth hearing in the case against journalist Furkan Karabay and Faruk Eren, then Editor-in-Chief of Gerçek Gündem, which was brought upon a complaint by Constitutional Court member İrfan Fidan on charges of “insulting a public official” (TCK 125/3), was held at the 54th Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance on 23 June 2026.

Karabay and his lawyers, Özge Naz Akkaya and Faruk Eren, were present in the courtroom.

Karabay stated, “The report was based on the court minutes; it would be absurd to infer an insult to a public official from this.”

The court ruled to dismiss the case in accordance with Article 26 of the Press Law.

At least 23 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

As of 26 June 2026, there are at least 23 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either awaiting trial or serving finalized sentences.

The full list can be accessed here.