Journalist Aslıhan Gençay, who had been on trial on charges of “insulting a public official” following a complaint by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, has been acquitted. Tekin’s lawyer has appealed the decision

ALİ SAFA KORKUT, ISTANBUL

The third hearing in the case against journalist Aslıhan Gençay on charges of “insulting a public official” was held at the Ankara 78th Criminal Court of First Instance on 2 July 2026. Gençay was on trial over the article titled “Names on Falyalı’s Tapes,” published on P24 on 24 April 2025.

Gençay and her lawyer were absent from the hearing, whilst the plaintiff Tekin’s lawyer was present. P24 monitored the hearing.

Tekin’s lawyer stated that the complaints remained valid and requested that Gençay be punished. Gençay’s lawyer, Jiyan Tosun, however, submitted a petition to the court requesting her client’s acquittal.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, argued that Gençay had committed the offence of “insulting a public official” and requested sentencing.

In announcing its verdict, the court ruled that the elements of the offence of “insulting a public official” had not been established and acquitted Aslıhan Gençay.

Following this, Tekin’s lawyer lodged an appeal on 3 July 2026 seeking to have the verdict overturned. In the application submitted to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was argued that the allegations regarding Tekin’s links to a particular group were of a nature to undermine his honor, dignity and reputation; on this basis, it was claimed that the elements of the offence attributed to Gençay had been established.

Gençay: “The allegations are unfounded and baseless”

Commenting on the ruling to Expression Interrupted, Gençay stated that there were no criminal elements in her report, saying: “I have no personal animosity or political rivalry with Yusuf Tekin. There is simply a news report that I wrote within the scope of press and freedom of expression, and which was drafted with the utmost care in its wording. We therefore consider the allegations to be unfounded and baseless.” Saying she viewed the ruling positively, Gençay commented on the opposing party’s appeal, noting, “It was something we expected.”

Gençay added that, following Tekin’s complaint, a separate case had been brought against her for “sprading false information” regarding the same news report, stating, “I hope the courts will rule in favor of freedom of expression and the press.”

Background of the case

Yusuf Tekin, the Minister of National Education, filed a criminal complaint against journalist Aslıhan Gençay over the article titled “The Names in Falyalı’s Tapes”, which was published on P24 on 24 April 2025 and blocked on 1 May 2025 by a court order. The criminal complaint led to an investigation, and the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, having completed its investigation, drew up an indictment on 19 June 2025 against Gençay, charging her with “insult via an audio, written or visual message” and seeking a prison sentence of up to two years.

In the indictment, in which Minister Tekin is listed as the plaintiff, Gençay was charged with quoting the P24 post containing the relevant news article, which read: “Names on Falyalı’s Tapes; Among the allegations is that Yusuf Tekin is also featured on Falyalı’s tapes. We have also investigated Yusuf Tekin’s links to the Menzil sect.”

The indictment alleges that, through his post, Gençay committed the offence of insult, which is of a nature to undermine the honor, dignity and reputation of the complainant, a public official, in connection with his official duties.

Following the acceptance of the indictment by the Ankara 78th Criminal Court of First Instance, the first hearing took place on 22 January 2026.

During the trial, Gençay, who gave evidence under instruction, reiterated the statement she had previously made to the police, denied the charges and requested an acquittal. Stating that she had no personal animosity towards the plaintiff Tekin, Gençay said:

“I have no conflict of interest regarding the plaintiff, nor do I have any political party rivalry with him. I do not know him personally; therefore, there is no concrete reason for me to have made any insults or defamatory statements. As a journalist, I simply included the information I had obtained in my report after verifying it. I did not use particularly harsh language. The subject of the article in question was not solely about the plaintiff. Consequently, I believe I was exercising my freedom of the press and freedom of expression. I do not accept the charges of insult and defamation; I request, first and foremost, that I be acquitted.”