Deniz Tekin
A local court in eastern Turkey has postponed the trial of journalist Perihan Kaya, citing the pending execution of an arrest warrant issued to secure her testimony in a defamation case filed by a former mayor accused of orchestrating an attack on another journalist.
The third hearing of the case was held at the Tatvan 1st Criminal Court of First Instance, in the province of Bitlis, on Oct. 22. Kaya is facing a charge of “insult” based on a complaint filed by Mehmet Emin Geylani, the former mayor of Tatvan. Geylani accuses Kaya of defaming him in relation to his alleged role in inciting an assault on Sinan Aygül, a journalist and former chair of the Bitlis Journalists Association.
Neither Kaya nor complainant Geylani attended the hearing. The court ruled to wait for the execution of the arrest warrant issued to take Kaya’s statement. It also issued a compelled appearance order (forcible summons) for Geylani to give testimony.
The next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2026.
