The court has accepted Kanbal's request to defend himself in Mardin and postponed the trial until 3 November 2025

ABDURRAHMAN AKÇAL, ADIYAMAN

The first hearing in the case against Mezopotamya Agency reporter Ahmet Kanbal on the charge of “spreading false information” over his live broadcast following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on in February 2023, was held at the Adıyaman 5th Criminal Court of First Instance on 14 October 2025.

The court accepted the lawyer's excuse and Kanbal's request to defend himself in Mardin, postponing the case until 3 November 2025.

Charge: “Spreading false information to the public”

In the indictment filed by the Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Ahmet Kanbal's statements made during a live broadcast from the Adıyaman Crisis Coordination Center following the earthquake were the subject of the charges. The prosecutor argued that these statements could cause fear and anxiety among the public and requested that he be punished under Article 217/A of the Turkish Criminal Code. The indictment included the following statements by Kanbal: "I am at the Adıyaman Crisis Coordination Center. Volunteers are working, but there has been insufficient work since yesterday. First foreign teams arrived, then AFAD. People have been left to die here for three days. State mechanisms have completely collapsed. People have been left to die. While volunteers are working in the rubble, AFAD volunteers are taking pictures in front of the rubble. If the region is left to the mercy of the state, disasters will be inevitable.”

The prosecution argued that these statements were “of a nature that could endanger public order and general health."

Indictment: “Carries the risk of creating fear or panic among the public”

The indictment stated that Kanbal made “provocative statements” during the broadcast in question and that these statements carried the risk of “creating fear or panic among the public.” The indictment also cited the suspect's social media posts and statements during the broadcast as evidence for the charges.

The prosecution also argued that the crime was committed intentionally and requested that he be deprived of certain rights in accordance with Article 53 of the Turkish Criminal Code.

The initial investigation resulted in no charges

A previous investigation conducted by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on the same broadcast, under the charge of “tettorism propaganda,” had resulted in no prosecution. However, the prosecution later filed a new criminal complaint alleging “spreading false information.” The Adıyaman Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment and initiated the trial process.

Article 217/A of the Turkish Criminal Code, which came into force in 2022, is known in the public sphere as the “disinformation law.” Legal experts and press organizations emphasize that the article contains “vague expressions” and therefore risks targeting critical journalism.