Aydın-based journalist İrem Delice jailed; three journalists to appear in court after 7 months in jail; Oya Lale Arslan detained

Aydın-based journalist İrem Delice jailed

İrem Delice, a reporter for the Aydın Denge newspaper, was imprisoned pending trial on 28 August over a social media post stating “Erdoğan has died.”

An investigation had been launched against the newspaper’s representative Emin Aydın, Editor-in-Chief Yeşim Ülken, reporter İslam Keleş and İrem Delice on charges of “spreading false information.” The journalists were taken into custody but released after giving their statements.

Delice, who was re-detained after the Aydın Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed against the decision, was sent to pre-trial detention by the duty criminal judgeship of peace.

The investigation was launched following a post on the newspaper’s Facebook account reading “Erdoğan has died.” It was established that the post actually referred to the obituary of a citizen named “Gülşen Erdoğan.”

Three journalists to appear in court after 7 months in jail

The imprisoned journalists Pınar Gayıp, Nadiye Gürbüz and Elif Bayburt are going to appear in court seven months after their arrest.

On 3 February, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), the Socialist Women’s Council (SKM), the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF), the Etkin News Agency (ETHA), DİSK/Limter-İş, Polen Ecology and BEKSAV, and over 100 people were taken into custody. As part of the same investigation, journalists Nadiye Gürbüz, Pınar Gayıp and Elif Bayburt, who work for the Etkin News Agency (ETHA), were sent to pre-trial detention on 5 February.

Gayıp’s first hearing will take place at the 23rd Istanbul High Criminal Court on 14 September; Nadiye Gürbüz’s first hearing will take place at the 25th Istanbul High Criminal Court on 15 September; and Elif Bayburt’s first hearing will take place at the 24th Istanbul High Criminal Court on 29 September.

Oya Lale Arslan detained

Journalist Oya Lale Arslan was taken into custody on charges of “spreading false information” and “terrorism propaganda.”

The detention was carried out on the instructions of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office over Arslan’s social media posts and remarks on YouTube.

The digital materials were seized during searches carried out at Arslan’s residence.

Journalist Arslan had been targeted on social media by pro-government individuals and accounts over a program on her YouTube channel in which she had hosted journalist Erk Acarer.

Case filed against journalist İsmail Arı upon complaint by former RTÜK Chairman Ebubekir Şahin

A case has been brought against journalist İsmail Arı on the suspicion of “disturbing the peace and tranquillity of individuals” over a message to former Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) Chairman Ebubekir Şahin asking, “Will you exercise your right of reply?”

Arı’s report stated that, during Şahin’s tenure, his relatives had been appointed to managerial positions within RTÜK. Following the publication of the report, Arı sent a message to Şahin’s mobile phone asking, “Will you exercise your right of reply?”

In the indictment, the aforementioned call and text message were cited as evidence of the offense.

Arı responded to the charges by arguing that this was an attempt to exercise the right of reply and correction, one of the fundamental principles of journalism.

Attack on a cameraman covering the Silivri shipwreck

Fatih Coşkun, a 24 TV cameraman covering the shipwreck off the coast of Silivri, was attacked whilst on duty on 2 September. The attackers were reportedly relatives of the missing crew members.

In the accident off the coast of Silivri, two commercial vessels collided; following the collision, contact was lost with one of the two vessels named TUĞBERK İMAMOĞLU. As of 3 September, search and rescue operations are continuing in the area to locate the 10 crew members on board the vessel.

At least 20 journalists and media workers in prison

Following the imprisonment of İrem Delice, as of 4 September 2026, at least 20 journalists and media workers are in prison in Turkey, either imprisoned pending trial or serving a sentence.

The full list can be accessed here.