The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, has demanded a conviction for İdil on charges of “terrorism propaganda.” The court had adjourned the until 22 April

CANSU PİŞKİN, ISTANBUL

The first hearing in the retrial of journalist Neşe İdil, who faces charges of “terrorism propaganda” following the Constitutional Court’s (AYM) ruling on a violation, was held at the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court on 7April 2026.

At the hearing, which was monitored by P24, İdil and her lawyer Hazal Sümeli were present.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, requested that İdil be punished for the “terrorism propaganda” charge in accordance with the previous ruling.

İdil and her lawyer requested time to submit a statement in response to the prosecutor’s opinion. The court granted the request and adjourned the case until 22 April 2026.

Bakcground of the case

A case was filed against İdil in 2023 on charges of “terrorism propaganda,” citing 10 social media posts, some of which included news links, as grounds.

At the second hearing in the trial on 20 February 2024, the court announced its decision, sentencing İdil to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “terrorism propaganda” and deferring the sentence.

İdil’s lawyers had appealed the decision of deferring the sentence regarding their client to the Constitutional Court (AYM). The Constitutional Court, which reviewed İdil’s application alongside others in the “Gökalp Bildirici and Others” case, ruled that the suspension of the sentence’s execution made it impossible to review the verdict, and thus the allegations and defenses had not been sufficiently evaluated, concluding that the right to a fair trial had been violated. Following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the violation dated 3 July 2025, the case was referred to the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court, the court of first instance, for a retrial.