The case filed against journalist Arı upon a complaint by Levent Uysal, MHP Member of Parliament for Mersin, has been adjourned as the judge was on sick leave

TANSU PİŞKİN, ISTANBUL

The fifth hearing in the case filed against journalist İsmail Arı on charges of “insult” and “defamation” upon a complaint by Levent Uysal, an MP for Mersin from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and founder of the Nişantaşı Education Foundation, was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 22 September 2026.

The hearing, which P24 monitored, was held by the duty judge as the judge of the case on sick leave.

The duty judge adjourned the trial until 8 December 2026.

Background of the case

In the indictment filed against Arı upon Uysal's complaint, the articles published in the BirGün newspaper on 19 January 2024, titled “MHP member snatched up land worth a fortune;” on 15 February 2024, titled “They rewarded fraud;” and “MHP Deputy Turns Out to Be a Serbian Citizen” published on 11 March 2024, as well as statements made by Arı as a guest on the “Close Follow-Up” program aired on Artı TV, are cited as evidence for the allegations.