The court also has ruled that Hacıoğlu, who is on trial for “membership in a terrorist organization,” be banned from leaving the country and be subject to judicial control measures in the form of regular signing in

KADİR CESUR, VAN

The first hearing in the trial of imprisoned journalist Reyhan Hacıoğlu, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Van 2nd High Criminal Court on 13 June 2025.

The hearing, which was scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., started 1 hour and 48 minutes late. The hearing was monitored by P24, the Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association (DFG), the Mezopotamya Women Journalists' Association (MKG), the Human Rights and Media Association (İHAMED), and numerous journalists and politicians.

Hacıoğlu began her defense by stating that she had been working as a journalist for 11 years, and said, "Only 10 of the programs I have done over the past three years have been processed. I have done dozens of programs, but the indictment focuses on issues related to the Kurdish question, Abdullah Öcalan, and isolation. However, I did not only report on these issues. I reported on many issues, from ecology to women's rights. I reported on the impunity in the judiciary, the spread of drugs through special war policies, the policies of impunity, and I covered the cases of Sıla baby in Tekirdağ and Narin Güran. But even there, the honorable prosecutor took the word ‘Kurdistan.’ I reported on the millions of people in this country who are starving, on poverty, and on what the war has cost this country. But the prosecutor has only selected a few words.”

“Why Kurdistan?”

In her defense, Hacıoğlu explained why she used the word ‘Kurdistan’ on the program she hosted with the following words: "This is Kurdistan, Your Honor. This is the geography where the Kurdish people live. The year 1071, known as the opening of the gates of Anatolia, is the date when Kurds and Turks first met. The concept of Kurdistan also appears in the historical documents and deeds of the Ottoman Empire. During the early Republican period, Atatürk also used the terms ‘Kurdistan’ and ‘Kurdish deputies.’ Government officials have also used the word “Kurdistan.” During the peace process, the President [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] also mentioned the word ‘Kurdistan’ many times. Indeed, Turkey has a consulate in Erbil. That is why it is perfectly normal for me to use the word Kurdistan. However, when we use it as journalists, it constitutes a crime."

“Bahçeli also accepted the isolation”

Regarding the term “isolation” in the indictment, Hacıoğlu said, “Devlet Bahçeli also accepted this isolation. He said, ‘If the isolation is lifted, let him come and speak in Parliament.’ Given this situation, if a person cannot be reached for various reasons, this is isolation.”

“Which organization am I being tried for membership in?”

Journalist Hacıoğlu responded separately to each statement in the indictment that was deemed to constitute a crime. One of these was “hunger strikes.”

Hacıoğlu said about the hunger strikes in prisons, "The hunger strike in question was launched on 27 November 2023, against human rights violations in prisons, and the action was suspended on 4 April. Actions were being taken so that not even a single person would be harmed. I committed this act because I was also jailed in 2018. I witnessed many hunger strikes. It has been claimed that my actions were intended to damage the country's reputation. I wish you could visit the prisons today and see the state of the country's reputation."

Continuing her defense by stating that she was being tried on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization,” Hacıoğlu said, "Which organization? An organization whose founder Devlet Bahçeli and the President thanked. As the free press, we stated that this country needs an honorable peace. We will continue to do our duty. Finally, the most important duty falls on the judiciary.”

During the continuation of the hearing, the presiding judge asked Hacıoğlu how long she had been working at Medya Haber TV. In response, Hacıoğlu said, “I am an employee of Güncel Prodüksiyon. My programs are broadcast on Medya Haber TV. I wish that instead of the morning programs that aired today, Güncel Prodüksiyon's programs were broadcast."

Question about Nazım Taştan and Cihan Bilgin

The presiding judge asked whether Güncel Prodüksiyon was affiliated with the organization; who were the journalists killed in the drone attack, and where they were killed. Hacıoğlu said that she was responsible for the program she presented and was not familiar with other issues, and that the journalists killed in the drone attack were Nazım Taştan and Cihan Bilgin and that they were killed in northeastern Syria.

Press card asked

During the hearing, Hacıoğlu was also asked whether her press credentials were official documents. Hacıoğlu responded, “Yellow press cards are only given to pro-government media outlets, especially during this administration. The institutions we work for are official. I am a member of DİSK Basın-İş, the Mezopotamya Women Journalists’ Association, and the Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association.”

“The residence searched is not mine”

The presiding judge stated that a search had been conducted at Hacıoğlu's residence and that books belonging to Abdullah Öcalan had been found and asked how she had obtained them. Hacıoğlu replied, “My address is known. The house searched is not my residence. I cannot know what was found in a search conducted in my absence.”

Democratic Modernity magazine mentioned

The Democratic Modernity magazine was also among the questions posed by the court. It was stated that the magazine was founded on Öcalan's instructions, that Öcalan wrote articles in the magazine under a code name, and that money transfers were made between the magazine's owner, Hasan Akbaba, and Reyhan Hacıoğlu on different dates. Hacıoğlu responded to the question as follows: "A straightforward logic is being applied. We do not look at each other's criminal records when we establish relationships. In 2018, even the people who stockpiled potatoes and onions were called criminal organization members. Hasan is my friend. I do not remember exactly why we exchanged money."

Individual names asked

The presiding judge asked about the identities of dozens of people mentioned in the indictment one by one. Reyhan Hacıoğlu answered each question individually. When Hacıoğlu responded to most of the people whose names were read out by saying, “They are my journalist friends,” the presiding judge asked, “Do the people you say are your journalist friends have official press cards?” Hacıoğlu replied, “Unfortunately, no.”

Özkaplan: “An attempt has been made to fabricate charges”

After Hacıoğlu's defense, lawyer Jiyan Özkaplan took the floor and said, "I have read the entire 46-page indictment. We argue that this is not an indictment. The prosecution has attempted to fabricate charges. My client is a journalist. She hosts guests and can discuss anything related to the country's agenda with them. In the indictment, the prosecutor claims that my client's programs insulted state institutions, but he is charging my client with membership in a terrorist organization." Özkaplan requested her client's release.

After lawyer Özkaplan's defense, the presiding judge asked Hacıoğlu if she had any family members who were members of a terrorist organization. Hacıoğlu refused to answer this question.

The prosecutor requested that Hacıoğlu remain in custody.

Hacıoğlu and her lawyer Özkaplan reiterated their request for release, stating that other journalists on trial in the investigation had been released and that there was no suspicion of evidence tampering or flight risk.

The court, which decided to release Hacıoğlu with a ban on leaving the country, adjourned the trial until 9 October 2025.