In their final opinion on the case, the prosecutor requested that Karvar be punished for the crime of “membership in a terrorist organization”

RABİA ÇETİN, ISTANBUL

The third hearing in the trial of journalist Rahime Karvar on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” over her professional activities, was held at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court on 9 October 2025.

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

As part of an investigation conducted in 2022, the Tekirdağ Chief Public Prosecutor's Office carried out an operation into the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) building in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district and seized a large amount of digital material. Data recovery was performed to retrieve deleted data from the seized digital material. The Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Rahime Karvar, whose name appeared on Excel lists, on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.”

The Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to investigate Karvar on the grounds that it was a repeat offense and sent the file to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. On 16 September 2025, the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court decided to merge the investigation file prepared against Karvar on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” with the existing file opened on the same charges.

After her identity was confirmed, Karvar defended herself against the charges in the merged HDK file, stating, "HDK is an organization that defends the people's right to organize. Journalists can also be part of it, and I was also part of it, closely following the work of the HDK. That is why my name is on the lists that are being presented as illegal. I do not consider this a crime.”

Karvar said, “Journalism is being tried in this case. As I stated in my previous statement, I will continue to practice journalism. Human rights violations in prisons and crimes against women continue. I will continue to report on these issues."

Tension in the courtroom

At the first hearing held on 12 June, Karvar was released with a ban on leaving the country. The court ruled that Karvar, who did not attend the second hearing on 17 July, be subject to judicial control measures in the form of an electronic ankle bracelet and the obligation to sign in twice a month.

Tension arose in the courtroom when the presiding judge interrupted Karvar as she was expressing her requests regarding the electronic ankle bracelet. The lawyers reacted to the court president's attitude, stating that he was personalizing the case. The presiding judge, however, claimed that the lawyers were threatening him. The tension ended after security guards intervened and the lawyers were removed from the courtroom.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested that Karvar be punished for “membership in a terrorist organization” along with the combined HDK case.

Karvar's lawyers requested time to make a statement against the opinion. Accepting the request for time, the court decided to continue the judicial control measures against Karvar.

The trial was postponed until 13 November 2025.

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.”