An Istanbul court acquitted academic Emrah Gülsunar on charges of “publicly inciting the commission of a crime through the press” over a poll he shared on social media, ruling that the legal elements of the alleged offense were not met.
The third hearing in Gülsunar’s trial was held at the Istanbul 51st Criminal Court of First Instance, located in Turkey’s largest city. The court decided to acquit him on the grounds that the act in question did not constitute a crime under Turkish law.
Gülsunar had been prosecuted for allegedly committing the offense of “publicly inciting the commission of a crime through the press” after sharing a poll on his social media account.
He was detained on Oct. 11, 2025, over the poll and later formally arrested. At his first hearing on Nov. 17, 2025 — the 36th day of his pretrial detention — the court ordered his release but imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country.
Prosecutors argued that the poll constituted criminal incitement. The question Gülsunar shared asked: “Seeking external assistance to overthrow a dictatorial regime — Legitimate / Not legitimate.”
In his defense statement at the first hearing, Gülsunar said the poll had been shared in the context of international debates following Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. He argued that the post was part of a broader public discussion in the international community and did not amount to incitement.
Turkey has in recent years seen a number of investigations and prosecutions related to social media posts, with authorities frequently citing offenses such as incitement or spreading unlawful content. Critics say such cases raise concerns about freedom of expression, while the government maintains that the measures are necessary to protect public order.
