Karvar had spent five months in prison on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization”

CANSU PİŞKİN, ISTANBUL

The fourth hearing in the trial of journalist Rahime Karvar, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” over her professional activities, was held at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court on 13 November 2025.

Journalist Karvar and her lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

The prosecutor, reiterating their final opinion on the case presented at the previous hearing, requested that Karvar be punished for the impugned crime.

Karvar, presenting her defense against the opinion, said, “My actions, which are presented as crimes, are journalistic activities. I demand my acquittal.”

After Karvar, her lawyer Elif Taşdöğen made a statement on the merits. Stating that her client's professional activities were the subject of the trial, Taşdöğen said, "The prosecution, which claims that there is ‘strong suspicion of a crime’ against my client, should have substantiated this suspicion and presented it to us, but we do not see this in the file. The elements of the crime have not been established," she said. Taşdöğen requested the court to lift the judicial control measures imposed on Karvar, and acquit her.

Karvar's lawyer Serhat Çakmak also emphasized in his statement that his client's alleged actions fell within the scope of journalism and freedom of expression. “There is ambiguity in the file regarding the alleged ‘membership in a terrorist organization’ charge,” said Çakmak, requesting acquittal.

When asked for her final statement, Karvar said, “Whatever your verdict may be, I will continue my profession as a journalist. I request my acquittal.”

The court sentenced Karvar to 1 year and 13 months in prison for “aiding an illegal organization.” The court ruled that the ban on leaving the country would continue but lifted the electronic tagging requirement and the obligation to report twice a month.

Background of the case

As part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Medya Haber TV employees Rahime Karvar, Ahmet Güneş, Welat 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 charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.”

The indictment against Karvar was completed on 24 March. The indictment cites Karvar's hosting of the program ‘Mercek’ on Medya Haber TV, described as “the PKK/KCK's media outlet,” as evidence of criminal activity. The prosecution considers Karvar's inclusion of statements by organization leaders in her programs as “terrorism propaganda and agitation,” arguing that she “systematically assumed a role in the organization's media structure.”

The Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court, which accepted the indictment, ruled for the release of Karvar at the first hearing with a ban on leaving the country on 12 June.

The court, which Karvar did not attend at the second hearing on 17 July, decided to impose judicial control measures on her, by means of an electronic ankle bracelet and an obligation to sign in twice a month, in addition to the ban on leaving the country,.