Örüç has said, “For a journalist, freedom of movement is as indispensable as a pen. Therefore, journalism knows no borders; I cannot do my job without freedom of travel”

The third hearing in the trial of journalist Vedat Örüç, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” over his social security records, conversations with colleagues, and telephone calls, was held at the Mersin 6th High Criminal Court on 18 November 2025.

Örüç was present at the hearing.

Speaking at the hearing, Örüç noted that “the prosecutor made accusations based on reading his intentions,” and stated that he had been unjustly held in prison for four and a half months. Örüç said, "The reasons presented as evidence have been eliminated with the acquittal of my friends who were arrested with me. The charges have been refuted by court decisions. However, while a decision should have been made in my favor, my trial is still ongoing.”

The prosecutor requested that judicial control measures continue. Örüç, recalling that he had participated in all the trials in which he had previously been tried on the same charges, said, “Simple reasons are being put forward to prevent journalists from doing their job. Despite sharing all my information openly for 11 months, my ban on leaving the country has not been lifted on the grounds that my digital materials have not been examined. There is only one explanation for this delay: to remove the journalist from his profession. For a journalist, freedom of travel is as indispensable as a pen. Therefore, journalism knows no borders; I cannot do my job without freedom of travel. For this reason, I request that the ban on leaving the country be lifted."

The prosecutor requested that the deficiencies in the case file be remedied and that the digital materials be examined as soon as possible.

The court ruled to continue the ban on Örüç leaving the country and to investigate the fate of the digital materials, postponing the case until 8 January 2026.

Background the case

Vedat Örüç was detained during house raids on 17 January as part of an investigation conducted in İstanbul and was imprisoned pending trial on 20 January on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization,” and sent to Marmara Prison. Örüç was released at the first hearing on 29 May 2025.

The indictment against Örüç includes social security records related to the institution where the journalist worked, a phone call he made regarding a news story, and photographs taken while following up on the news with fellow journalists.