The court has decided to continue the international travel ban on Pehlevan, who is on trial for “insulting the president,” and adjourned the case until 6 October

CANSU PİŞKİN, ISTANBUL

The fourth hearing in the case against Doğan Pehlevan, a cartoonist for LeMan magazine, who faces charges of “insulting the president” over posts allegedly made from a social media account attributed to him, was held at the 36th Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 July 2026.

Pehlevan’s lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24. The lawyer representing the plaintiff, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, did not attend the hearing.

The presiding judge stated that the source investigation report awaited from the Cybercrime Department had been submitted to the case file. Pehlevan’s lawyer, Samet Fidan, said: “My client had stated that he did not have any social media accounts, yet the source investigation report states that he does have an account. We will therefore examine the source investigation report and make a statement later.” Fidan also requested that the ban on Pehlevan travelling abroad be lifted.

The prosecutor, presenting their final opinion on the case, argued that the offense had been proven based on the reports submitted to the court and requested that Pehlevan be punished for the offense of “insulting the president.” The prosecutor also requested that the court order the continuation of the judicial supervision measures.

The court, which ruled that the international travel ban should remain in place, adjourned the case until 6 October 2026, granting Pehlevan and his lawyers time to submit their statements in response to the prosecutor’s closing arguments.

Background of the case

Cartoonist Doğan Pehlevan was detained on 30 June after a cartoon he published in the 26 June 2025 issue of LeMan magazine circulated on social media. Along with Pehlevan, the magazine's managing editor Zafer Aknar, editor Aslan Özdemir, graphic designer Cebrail Okçu, and facility manager Ali Yavuz were also detained during a police raid on their homes and taken to the police station.

While Pehlevan was in custody, the Cybercrime Department filed an investigation report. The report, dated 1 July 2025, stated that a post made on 1 July 2019, from an X account allegedly belonging to Pehlevan, with the username “@doganpehlevan,” was found to constitute “insulting the president.”

After being questioned by the prosecutor on 2 July, Pehlevan was referred to the duty magistrate's court with a request for his imprisonment on charges of “inciting the people to hatred and hostility” and “insulting the president.” Pehlevan was sent to pre-trial detention for both charges by decision of the İstanbul 5th Criminal Judgeship of Peace.

Two separate cases were opened against Pehlevan. The first hearing in the case opened on the charge of “insulting the president” was held on 11 November. Although Pehlevan said that the account from which the post in question was made did not belong to him, the court decided to continue his detention, “taking into account the current evidence.”

In the first hearing in the case filed for “inciting the people to hatred and hostility,” held on 14 November, a release decision was issued for Pehlevan.

Pehlevan was released pending trial at the end of the second hearing held in trial in which he is charged with “insulting the president” on 18 November 2025.