Journalists, writers, politicians and a lawyer are set to appear before judges this week on a range of charges including “membership in an organization,” “propaganda for an organization,” “aiding an organization,” “insulting the president,” and “recording audio and video.” The hearings will take place in the southern province of Adana, the southeastern city of Diyarbakır, as well as in Istanbul, Bakırköy — a district on Istanbul’s European side — and the capital, Ankara.
Monday, Feb. 16, 2026
At 10:00 a.m., a hearing in the case against lawyer Şiar Rişvanoğlu, who is charged with “membership in an organization,” will be held at the Adana 11th High Criminal Court. At the first hearing, the witness statement forming the main basis of the file was withdrawn, and the court lifted judicial control measures and adjourned the trial to Feb. 16. Rişvanoğlu is being tried without detention.
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026
At 9:20 a.m., a hearing in the case against writer Mehmet Şahin, who is charged with “being a member of an organization,” will be held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.
At 9:30 a.m., a hearing in the case against Ramazan Şimşek, the operator of Pîne Cafe, who is charged with “making propaganda for an organization,” will be held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court. Şimşek, who is being tried over a statement he made after Kurdish Language Day, is being tried without detention.
At 11:20 a.m., a hearing will be held at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court in the case in which journalist Erdoğan Alayumat, represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), along with journalists Tuğçe Yılmaz, Suzan Demir, Gülcan Dereli, Kemal Taylan Abatan, translator Serap Güneş and sociologist Berfin Atlı, are being tried on charges of “aiding an organization” due to royalties they received in return for news reports.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026
At 10:25 a.m., a hearing will be held at the Ankara 36th Criminal Court of First Instance in the case against Mehmet Kılıç, a former member of the German Federal Parliament who is represented by MLSA, on the allegation of “insulting the president.”
At 11:30 a.m., a hearing will be held at the Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in the case against Nefes newspaper reporter Nisanur Yıldırım, who is charged with “insulting a public official.” The case was filed upon a complaint by the Minister of Culture and Tourism. The first session has been held and the file was adjourned for the preparation of the prosecutor’s opinion.
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
At 10:03 a.m., the first hearing following a violation ruling by the Constitutional Court will be held at the Istanbul 55th Criminal Court of First Instance in the case against journalist İnan Ketenciler, who is represented by MLSA and is being tried on charges of “recording audio and video” for documenting violence by a neighborhood watch officer. The local court had previously imposed a judicial fine of 500 Turkish lira (about $15) and ruled to defer the announcement of the verdict.
