In October, Turkish courts saw the prosecution of 517 individuals, with students, activists, journalists, and lawyers among those facing trial. The charges ranged from participating in protests to alleged membership in terrorist organizations. According to data collected by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Istanbul hosted the most hearings, while Diyarbakır followed closely.
Overview of October trials
- Total defendants: 517
- Students: 219
- Activists: 171
- Journalists: 88
- Lawyers: 29
- Others: 3 academics, 2 writers, 1 artist, and 1 politician.
Case outcomes
- Total verdicts issued: 19
- Acquittals: 8 cases (106 defendants acquitted).
- Convictions: 6 cases (11 defendants sentenced).
- Total prison time: 13 years, 9 months, 14 days.
Notable sentences
- Pelin Özkaptan: Sentenced to 1 year, 6 months, and 22 days for “terrorist propaganda” over social media posts about Eylem Ataş, an individual killed fighting ISIS. Sentence deferred.
- Mehmet Ali Ertaş: Re-sentenced to 1 year, 3 months after a Constitutional Court decision for retrial. Sentence deferred.
- Can Ataklı: Received 10 months for “inciting hatred” during a YouTube broadcast. Sentence deferred.
- Ahmet Erkan Yiğitsözlü: Former Anadolu Agency reporter sentenced to 6 years, 3 months for “membership in an armed terrorist organization.”
- Dilruba Kayserilioğlu: Sentenced to 11 months, 20 days for “insulting the president” during a street interview in Izmir.
Geographic distribution of trials
- Istanbul: 44 trials (highest number).
- Diyarbakır: 12 trials.
- Ankara: 8 trials.
- Izmir: 2 trials.
- Other cities: Dersim, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa saw one trial each.
Most common charges
- Violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations: 13 cases.
- Membership in a terrorist organization: 13 cases.
- Terrorist propaganda: 8 cases.
- Insulting the president: 7 cases.
- Insulting Turkish institutions or officials: 5 cases.
Evidence used against defendants
- Social media posts: 16 cases (most common).
- News articles/columns: 13 cases.
- Participation in protests: 9 cases.
- Public statements (TV appearances, interviews, etc.): 3 cases.
Press freedom concerns
- Journalists in prison: 22 remain incarcerated on various charges.
- Trials targeting journalists: Continued in multiple cities, with several high-profile cases related to press freedom and expression.
MLSA monitoring efforts
Throughout October, MLSA’s Trial Monitoring Unit followed developments in 73 cases across nine cities. Updates were shared bilingually via the association's social media channels.
The continued prosecutions of journalists, activists, and students underscore concerns about freedom of expression and assembly in Turkey. Critics argue that these trials reflect systematic efforts to silence dissent and restrict fundamental rights.
