MLSA - The case against eight journalists who are being prosecuted for covering protests in Istanbul following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been separated from the main trial. Seven of the journalists were briefly jailed during the initial wave of detentions.
Photojournalists Yasin Akgül of Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Bülent Kılıç, as well as journalists Zeynep Kuray and Emre Orman, are being represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA). Akgül, Kılıç, and Kuray were arrested on March 26 and released the following day on March 27.
Other journalists on trial include photojournalists Gökhan Kam and Kurtuluş Arı, Now TV reporter Ali Onur Tosun, and journalist Hayri Tunç. They face charges of “participating in an unlawful assembly and refusing to disperse despite warnings” under Turkey’s Law on Meetings and Demonstrations.
First hearing sees chaotic scenes and judge briefly leaves courtroom
The first hearing in the case took place on April 18 at the Istanbul 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance, but due to the high number of defendants and limited space, it was moved to the larger courtroom of the 27th High Criminal Court. A total of 99 people are being tried in this case, which includes many defendants unrelated to journalism.
Attorney Veysel Ok, co-director of MLSA, argued that the journalists were performing their professional duties covering a public demonstration and called for their immediate acquittal. If the court did not agree to acquit them, he requested that their case be split from the broader proceedings.
Tensions escalated during the hearing when defense lawyers objected to procedural irregularities. They noted that the court was proceeding without addressing jurisdictional objections. In response to the rising criticism, the presiding judge briefly left the courtroom but later returned along with the prosecutor to resume the hearing.
Defense lawyers also referred to an opinion submitted by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, questioning the legal basis of the case. They argued that the police warning cited in the indictment was vague and its timing and manner remained unclear.
Court rules to separate journalists' case
At the end of the session, the court ruled to separate the case files of the eight journalists and four of their lawyers from the main trial. The move is seen as an opportunity to evaluate the journalists’ actions within a more focused legal framework.
Background: Journalists detained during March protests
The charges stem from protests held in Istanbul and the western city of İzmir on March 23 and 24 following İmamoğlu’s detention. Eleven journalists in total were detained—eight in Istanbul and three in İzmir. Among them were reporters working for both national and international media outlets.
Initially released after being brought to the Istanbul Courthouse on March 25, seven of the journalists were rearrested the same day following an appeal by the prosecutor’s office. A judge subsequently ordered their detention, although they were released the next day.
