Journalist Abdullah Kaya, who was detained in Turkey’s eastern province of Ağrı for sharing a song on social media, has been released under judicial control. Kaya, represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), stated in his defense that he shared the song simply because he liked it.
Kaya was taken into custody on Feb. 19 over a Facebook post titled "A special song for Leyla Güven," on charges of "making terrorist propaganda." After giving his statement at the Ağrı Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, he was released with a travel ban.
Video featuring former lawmaker and PKK figure cited as evidence
The investigation, led by the Ağrı Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, cited a video featuring images of former MP Leyla Güven and Sakine Cansız, one of the founding members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as the basis for the accusation against Kaya.
In his statement, Kaya acknowledged that the Facebook account in question belonged to him. He explained that the video included a Kurdish song performed by Ayfer Düztaş and that he shared it simply because he liked the song.
Lawyer Zülfi Polat, who accompanied Kaya on behalf of MLSA’s Legal Unit, argued that his client did not post the video to praise or promote violence. He also emphasized that Kaya cares for his bedridden wife and posed no flight risk, requesting that judicial control measures be applied instead of detention.
Following his statement, the prosecutor’s office ordered Kaya’s release, imposing a travel ban as a precautionary measure.
