Yıldız Tar released pending further investigation; Alican Uludağ and Ali Taş taken into custody; journalists summoned to give evidence in the “Ahbap” investigation

Yıldız Tar released pending further investigation

Editor-in-Chief of Kaos-GL Yıldız Tar, who was arrested on 25 June on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of NATO operations, was released on 22 July. Tar was released pending further investigation, as no formal indictment has been issued yet.

Tar had been taken into custody on 23 June during operations organized in connection with the NATO Summit. He was subsequently jailed on 25 June on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and sent to Ankara Sincan Prison.

Alican Uludağ detained overnight

Journalist Alican Uludağ, who was taken into custody on 21 July on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” and “disseminating misleading information” over a social media post, was released subject to judicial supervision measures the next day.

Having spent the night of 21 July at the Ankara Police Headquarters’ Special Security Branch, Uludağ was taken to the courthouse at midday.

On 22 July, Uludağ was released by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on Duty under judicial supervision measures requiring him to sign in four days a week and prohibiting him from leaving the country.

Uludağ was previously arrested at his home in Ankara on 19 February and imprisoned pending trial the following day over his social media posts. He was charged with “publicly insulting the president,” “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “publicly denigrating the government of the Republic of Turkey and the state’s judicial institutions.”

An Ankara court ordered Uludağ’s release at the first hearing of his trial on 21 May, after he had spent 90 days behind bars. His trial remains ongoing.

Journalist Ali Taş briefly detained

Journalist Ali Taş was detained on 22 July and released on the same day.

Announcing the development on his social media account, Taş stated that he had been detained over social media posts he had shared on 21 July.

Taş was released following police questioning, subject to an international travel ban.

Journalists summoned to give statement in the “Ahbap” investigation

As part of the investigation launched into allegations that donations collected on behalf of the Ahbap Association were transferred to the accounts of certain suspects, journalists Ece Üner, Fatih Altaylı, Ruşen Çakır and Özlem Gürses, presenter Öykü Serter, comedian Şahan Gökbakar, musician Gökhan Özoğuz, presenter Öykü Serter, lawyer Feyza Altun and YouTuber Fatih Koparan were summoned to give their statement.

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office summoned Üner, Portakal, Altun, Özoğuz and Serter to give statement as persons with knowledge of the matter. These individuals gave evidence at Çağlayan Courthouse on 23 July.

figures were questioned about their social media posts made during the 6 February earthquakes.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched the “Ahbap Criminal Organization” investigation on 12 July.

The investigation was opened following allegations regarding the use of donations collected in the wake of the 6 February earthquakes. The prosecution’s file states that the Ahbap Association raised approximately 158 million dollars in donations for the earthquake-affected region, whilst it was alleged that a portion of these funds was misused.

In three operations carried out as part of the investigation, 28 people, including the association’s founder Haluk Levent and Babala TV presenter Oğuzhan Uğur, were jailed. The court had issued an arrest warrant for Levent on the grounds of “strong suspicion of a crime.”

At least 21 journalists and media workers behind bars in Turkey

Following the release of journalist Yıldız Tar, as of 24 July 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