Neşe İdil handed jail term; journalist couple who reported on AKP MP’s remarks detained; verdict could not be rendered in Hakan Tosun murder case; Ahmet Güneş and Mehmet Ali Çelebi face “disinformation” investigation

Journalist couple who reported on AKP MP’s remarks detained

Hatice Aksoy, the Proprietor of Trabzon 360 Haber, which broadcasts from Trabzon, and her husband Muhsin Aksoy, the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief, were taken into custody by police following a news report they had published on 22 September. The journalists were released after giving their statements.

The report in question was not based on a new statement by AKP Diyarbakır MP Suna Kepoğlu Ataman, but on statements she had made on 12 August 2026. In her interview with İlke TV, Ataman had thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, as well as PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and the DEM Party and Imrali delegations. Ataman had said, “Thank god for Abdullah Öcalan, the DEM delegation and the İmralı delegation that they enabled us to experience this day.”

Trabzon 360 Haber brought the statement—which was made approximately 1.5 months ago and had previously been reported by numerous media outlets—back into the spotlight on 22 September. According to Muhsin Aksoy’s account, the news was published at around 4.00 pm. Aksoy stated that approximately four hours later, Atilla Ataman, the husband of Suna Kepoğlu Ataman, rang them and made threats. Aksoy added that around three hours after this call, plainclothes police officers arrived outside their housing estate.

Three journalists detained in Şanlıurfa over posts on earthquake

Journalists Mehmet Toprak, Halil Biter and Kenan Bayık, along with nine other people, were detained on 24 September over social media posts they made regarding the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey’s southeastern district of Şanlıurfa.

Of the 12 people taken to the Şanlıurfa Police Headquarters, all except the journalists were released after giving statements. The journalists, however, were transferred to the Şanlıurfa Courthouse after giving their statements.

It remains unclear what charges have been brought against the journalists.

Journalists Ahmet Güneş and Mehmet Ali Çelebi face “disinformation” investigation

An investigation has been launched against Ahmet Güneş, Editor-in-Chief of the Yeni Yaşam newspaper, and Mehmet Ali Çelebi, its Managing Editor, over a news article published in the newspaper entitled “Is murder the job of those in uniform?”. 

The investigation, launched following a complaint by the Ministry of National Defense, has seen the two journalists charged with “spreading false information.”

Access to Yaman Akdeniz’s X account blocked

The X account of Yaman Akdeniz, co-founder of the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), has been blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of protecting national security and public order, and withheld by X in Türkiye.

Through the “EngelliWeb” project, IFÖD monitors decisions to block access to websites, social media accounts and news content in Turkey and brings these to the attention of the public.

Neşe İdil handed prison sentence

The Anadolu 85th Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced journalist Neşe İdil to 2 months and 24 days in prison in a case brought against her on charges of “praising an offense or an offender.”

İdil had reacted to the arrest of a person named M. E. U. following a post they shared on the X platform regarding Yasemin Minguzzi. İdil had made several posts stating that no one could be arrested for exercising their freedom of expression.

The individual named M. E. U., who had been briefly detained in connection with the case, was acquitted by the Bakırköy 42nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

İdil’s lawyer said the following in a social media post: “For a person to be punished on the charge of ‘praising an offense or an offender,’ there must first be an offense and an offender. In the grounds for its ruling, the court did not substantiate the decision but, on the contrary, proved that we were in the right. At a time when the rule of law is being trampled underfoot to such an extent and arbitrary practices have reached their peak, we feel compelled to share this scandalous ruling with the public.”

Abdurrahman Gök’s trial has been adjourned until December

The 12th hearing in the trial of journalist Abdurrahman Gök on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” over his professional activities and the statements made by the informant Ümit Akbıyık, was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 22 September 2026.

Gök and his lawyers, Resul Temur and Mehmet Emin Aktar, were present at the hearing, whilst the Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association (DFG) and the Amed Branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) attended as observers.

Whilst Gök requested his acquittal, his lawyers, Temur and Aktar, requested that the missing elements in the file be resolved.

The court, which decided to await the outcome of case no. 2024/5456 before the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, adjourned the case until 17 December 2026.

Merged case against İsmail Arı over news reports concerning Yunus Emre Foundation begins

The first hearing in the case against journalist İsmail Arı, who is on trial on charges of “defamation” over reports published in BirGün daily regarding allegations of corruption at the Yunus Emre Foundation, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 22 September 2026.

As the judge who was handling Arı’s case was on sick leave, the case was heard by a duty judge.

The duty judge adjourned the case until 8 December 2026.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Trial of İsmail Arı adjourned as judge was on sick leave

The fifth hearing in the case filed against journalist İsmail Arı on charges of “insult” and “defamation” upon a complaint by Levent Uysal, an MP for Mersin from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and founder of the Nişantaşı Education Foundation, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 22 September 2026.

The hearing, which P24 monitored, was held by the duty judge as the judge of the case on sick leave.

The duty judge adjourned the trial until 8 December 2026.

"Disinformation" case against journalists Soykan and Pehlivan adjourned

The second hearing in the case filed against journalists Timur Soykan and Barış Pehlivan on charges of “spreading false information” was held at at the Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

Barış Pehlivan did not attend the hearing, which was monitored by P24, whilst Timur Soykan and his lawyer, Gamze Pamuk, were present in the courtroom.

In his defense, Soykan noted that he had been a journalist for 27 years, stating: “As part of my profession, I have reported on numerous cases of corruption. In the reports I have produced in this context, I had no criminal intent; rather, I am working to ensure that society and the Soykan, who stated that he did not accept the charges, said, “I am a journalist and writing about these matters is my job.”

His lawyer, Gamze Pamuk, then took the floor. Pamuk, stating that she concurred with Soykan’s defense, said the following:

“The issue to be debated here is not whether the words in question were harsh, but whether the elements of the offense have been established. I could not see this in the indictment; they have merely highlighted certain words in bold. If my client provided false information, the truth of the matter should have been established. My client’s remarks consist solely of political analysis. It is the very act of prosecuting him on the basis of these remarks that undermines the judiciary. My client’s comments regarding irregularities within the judiciary are based on his professional experience. If these remarks constitute a criminal offense, then a case should also have been brought against İsmail Uçar.”

Stating that the elements of the offense had not been established, Pamuk requested that Soykan be acquitted.

The prosecutor requested that the outcome of the investigation, which had been launched against the journalists on charges of “insulting the president” and “denigrating state institutions and bodies,” citing the same program as grounds, be awaited.

The court also decided, in line with the prosecutor’s request, to enquire into the outcome of this investigation. 

The trial was adjourned until 22 December 2026.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Hakan Tosun murder case: Verdict not rendered because a defendant’s lawyers were absent

The third hearing in the trial of Abdurrahman Murat and Adnan Şahin on charges of “willful murder” in Hakan Tosun murder case was held at at the Bakırköy 17th High Criminal Court on 22 September 2026.

As observed by P24, extensive security measures were in place around the courthouse and outside the courtroom prior to the hearing. Riot police were stationed outside the courtroom holding shields. Four journalists were permitted to enter the courtroom. 

At the start of the hearing, the presiding judge announced that the lawyers for the defendant Abdurrahman Murat had submitted a request for leave of absence, citing a heavy workload and a lack of sufficient time to prepare their defense, and had therefore not attended the hearing. Following this announcement, the judge stated that the request for leave of absence had been rejected.

The prosecutor reiterated their final opinion on the case they had presented on 10 September 2026 and requested that the defendants be sentenced for the impugned crime. The prosecutor also requested that the court order the continuation of their detention alongside the sentence.

Hakan Tosun’s family were then asked for their views on the prosecutor’s opinion. Tosun’s mother said, “I want them to be sentenced to life imprisonment. They can speak to their children, but I cannot. Let them experience what I have gone through.” Tosun’s siblings also stated that they agreed with the prosecutor’s opinion.

Then Tosun’s lawyers took the floor and made their statements. After that, the defendants stated that they were repeating what they had said previously. At this point, the presiding judge asked Abdurrahman Murat where his lawyers were.

When the defendant Murat said he did not know, the presiding judge stated that if they failed to appear at the next hearing, a lawyer would be appointed by the Bar Association. 

The lawyers for the other defendant present in the courtroom requested release and acquittal.

The court adjourned the case until 7 October 2026. No decision was made regarding the request to file a criminal complaint against the third suspect.

Click here to read the details of the article.

Case filed against Fırat Fıstık upon complaint by Ministry adjourned

The trial of journalist Fırat Fıstık, who faces charges of “spreading false information” following a complaint by the Ministry of National Defense, resumed at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 22 September 2026.

Fıstık and his lawyers did not attend the hearing, which was covered by P24, citing a valid reason for their absence.

The court, having accepted the reason for their absence, adjourned the case until 12 November 2026.

Click here to access the background of the case.

At least 21 journalists and media workers in prison

As of 25 September 2026, there are at least 21 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either imprisoned pending trial or serving a sentence.

The full list can be accessed here.