In February, 28 journalists, 46 activists, and 15 politicians, academics, and lawyers stood trial in Turkey on various charges. The majority of cases were based on allegations of "terrorist propaganda," "insulting a public official," and "spreading misleading information." While some defendants were acquitted, others received prison sentences.
Throughout the month, trials targeting journalists, activists, and politicians for social media posts, news reports, and political statements took place across the country.
Trials against journalists
Several prominent journalists, including Nevşin Mengü, Levent Gültekin, Sezai Sarıoğlu, and Pınar Gayıp, faced trial during February.
Mengü was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for "terrorist propaganda" over her interview with former PYD co-chair Salih Muslim. Levent Gültekin, who was on trial for "insulting the president" over comments made on Halk TV, was acquitted.
Writer Sezai Sarıoğlu, who had been acquitted four years ago, was retried after an appeal by the Court of Cassation and sentenced to 1 year, 6 months, and 22 days in prison. Meanwhile, Pınar Gayıp, accused of "membership in a terrorist organization" and "terrorist propaganda," had her case separated from the files of other defendants.
Several other trials involving journalists took place throughout the month:
- Ercan Aktaş faced charges of "terrorist propaganda" at Istanbul’s 23rd High Criminal Court over social media posts.
- Merdan Yanardağ was acquitted at Istanbul’s 35th Criminal Court of First Instance in a case filed under Turkey’s "censorship law" for sharing allegations of an assassination plot against former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
- Barış Pehlivan appeared before the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance over an article in Cumhuriyetnewspaper following a complaint by Boğaziçi University Rector Mehmet Naci İnci. Pehlivan also faced trial the same day in a separate case filed by former Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor and Court of Cassation member Yüksel Kocaman.
- Furkan Karabay was tried at Istanbul’s 56th Criminal Court of First Instance over a YouTube interview.
- Mimar Kaya faced charges at Hakkâri’s 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance for failing to comply with an access ban order.
Cases against activists and politicians
- Journalist Evrim Kepenek was acquitted in a case related to her social media post about the Feb. 6 earthquakes.
- Journalist Beritan Canözer was retried at Diyarbakır’s 4th High Criminal Court and convicted again after previously receiving a 1-year, 3-month prison sentence for "terrorist propaganda."
- Iris Mozalar, an LGBTQ+ activist, was acquitted in Istanbul’s 61st Criminal Court of First Instance after being prosecuted for criticizing racist attacks in Kayseri.
- Former Tunceli-Dersim Co-Mayor Birsen Orhan was sentenced to five months in prison for her speeches at protests against government-appointed trustees and for possessing Jinoloji magazine.
- Former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu faced trial at Mersin’s Criminal Court of First Instance for "insulting a public official" over remarks he made about then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Convictions and acquittals
- Artist Cihan Çelik was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison by Istanbul’s 22nd High Criminal Court for performing the song Koçgiri Başladı Harba at an event in Belgium.
- Ten individuals who participated in Eskişehir’s Pride March are being prosecuted at the city’s 16th Criminal Court of First Instance for violating Turkey’s Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations.
- Nasuh Mahruki, founder of the search-and-rescue group AKUT, was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison over a social media post criticizing Supreme Election Council (YSK) President Ahmet Yener’s statements on electronic voting.
