Appearing before a judge for the first time in the case in which she has been detained for five months, Karvar said, “I defend my journalistic activities that were cited as evidence of crime in the indictment”

CANSU PİŞKİN, ISTANBUL

The first hearing in the trial of imprisoned journalist Rahime Karvar, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court on 12 June 2025.

Karvar and her lawyers Elif Taşdöğen and Serhat Çakmak were present at the hearing ,which was monitored by P24.

Karvar in her defense statement denied the charges. "As an example of the pressure on press workers, I am appearing before the judge for the first time today after five months in detention. The prosecutor wants press workers to carry out the public relations activities of state institutions. This is contrary to the principles of journalism. I am defending my journalistic activities, which are presented as evidence of a crime in the indictment,“ Karvar said.

Karvar added, “As a journalist, discussing a speech made by Devlet Bahçeli from the parliamentary podium on my program constitutes a violation of press and freedom of expression. Although the prosecution seeks to portray my professional activities as criminal acts, I do not accept this. My five-month detention has turned into an injustice.” Karvar demanded her release and acquittal.

The presiding judge asked Karvar, “Did not you foresee that the place where you work could cause trouble for you?” Karvar replied, “I do not believe that what I did was a crime. Therefore, I did not approach it with the mindset that it could cause trouble for me.”

The prosecutor requested that Karvar's pre-trial detention be continued.

Karvar's lawyer, Elif Taşdöğen, said, “The indictment is the same as the police report. The prosecutor’s office filed a copy-paste indictment. My client is a program host at Güncel Production. She cannot be held responsible for the words of the guests who participated in the program," and requested her release.

The presiding judge who took issue with the phrase “Mr. Öcalan” used in lawyer Taşdöğen's defense, said, “You cannot refer to the founder of the terrorist organization as ‘Mr.’ in my court.” The lawyers criticized the presiding judge’s intervention, reminding him of Supreme Court decisions on the matter. The presiding judge said he would take action if it happened again.

Serhat Çakmak, one of Karvar's lawyers, requested his client's release, arguing that there was no evidence to suggest that she would flee.

The court decided to release Karvar with a ban on leaving the country. The trial was adjourned until 17 July 2025.

Background of the case

As part of an investigation conducted by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Media Haber TV employees Rahime Karvar, Ahmet Güneş, Velat Ekin, Vedat Örüç, Necla Demir, and Reyhan Hacıoğlu were detained on 17 January 2025. Karvar and the other journalists were imprisoned pending trial on 20 January on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” and sent to prison.

The indictment against Karvar was completed on 24 March.

The indictment considers Karvar's hosting of the program “Mercek” on Medya Haber TV, which is described as “the media outlet of the PKK/KCK Armed Terrorist Organization,” to be a criminal offense. The prosecutor claims that Karvar “gave space to the calls and statements of PKK/KCK leaders in the programs he hosted, and that these statements were evaluated as part of the organization's propaganda and agitation. The prosecutor argues that Karvar is not merely a journalist or presenter but has systematically and continuously taken on a role within the organization's media structure.”