Journalism and Freedom of Expression Cases – Week of July 13, 2026

This week, court hearings involving journalists, politicians, publishers and individuals prosecuted over freedom of expression will be held in several cities across Turkey. Hearings scheduled in Ankara, Istanbul and Diyarbakır, the largest city in predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey, will focus on charges including membership in a terrorist organization, propaganda for a terrorist organization, insulting the president, inciting hatred and hostility among the public, and cases related to an assassination investigation.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

9:30 a.m. – The 38th hearing in the case against politician and journalist Tayyip Temel, who is charged with membership in a terrorist organization, will be held at the Diyarbakır 2nd High Criminal Court.

9:50 a.m. – The 14th hearing in the Umut (Hope) Case, which covers 21 unsolved murders, including the killings of journalists Uğur Mumcu and Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, as well as Muammer Aksoy and Bahriye Üçok, will be held at the Ankara 5th High Criminal Court.

10:28 a.m. – A hearing will be held at the Istanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance in the case against LeMan magazine cartoonist Doğan Pehlevan, who is charged with insulting the president over posts made from a social media account allegedly belonging to him.

11:00 a.m. – The second hearing in the case against comedian Tuba Ulu, who is charged with inciting hatred and hostility among the public over a joke about Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan during a stand-up performance, will be held at the Istanbul 13th Criminal Court of First Instance.

Thursday, July 16, 2026

9:00 a.m. – A hearing will be held at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court in the case against journalist Hakkı Boltan and publishing house employee Delil Zenderalp, who are charged with propaganda for a terrorist organization over allegations that they possessed banned publications.

9:05 a.m. – A hearing will be held at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court in the case against journalist Berivan Kutlu, who is charged with propaganda for a terrorist organization over social media posts.

10:00 a.m. – A hearing will be held at the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court in the case against jailed ETHA correspondent Müslüm Koyun and another defendant, who are charged with membership in a terrorist organization.