Journalist Alican Uludağ was arrested by the Istanbul 9th Criminal Judgeship of Peace after being referred to the court as part of an investigation on charges of “insulting the President.” During his questioning, Uludağ rejected the accusations and argued that his social media posts fell within the scope of journalism and criticism.
Uludağ was referred to the judgeship with a request for arrest in a letter dated Feb. 20, 2026, from the Istanbul Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau. He appeared before the judge accompanied by his lawyers, Tora Pekin, Abbas Yalçın and Akın Atalay.
“I have been a courthouse reporter for 18 years”
During identity verification, Uludağ stated that he is a journalist and has worked as a courthouse reporter for 18 years. In his defense statement, he said he did not accept the accusations:
“I gave statements to the police and the prosecutor on this matter. I have been working as a courthouse reporter for 18 years. I did my job within the limits of journalism. None of the posts cited in the prosecutor’s allegations contain any element of crime. They are entirely within the scope of the right to criticism.”
Uludağ said that to date there had been no complaint from the President or his lawyers regarding his posts, and that he had been brought from Ankara to Istanbul over posts made months ago.
“There is no insult to the President, there is criticism”
In his defense statement, Uludağ argued that the case file lacked an objective basis and said:
“There is no profanity directed at the person of the President. There are criticisms by a judicial reporter. This country is a democratic state governed by the rule of law. If we cannot criticize the President, why are we practicing journalism?”
Uludağ said there was no suspicion that he would flee or tamper with evidence, adding that he had always given statements in past investigations opened against him.
“So the new minister in Ankara can be comfortable?”
Touching on what he described as the background of the case, Uludağ claimed the investigation was linked to his journalistic activities. Arguing that he was being targeted due to his news reports and criticisms regarding the Ministry of Justice, he said:
“Is arrest being sought so that our new minister in Ankara can be comfortable and not face questions at press conferences? I am a judicial reporter. I have been reporting on the judiciary since 2010. Periods have changed, but I have continued to practice journalism. If I am writing the truth, this cannot be seen as a crime.”
Uludağ said he had previously faced pressure due to his journalistic activities and added, “I will not depart from my line. I have two children. I did not commit a crime. I appeal to your conscience.”
Lawyer: “There is no element of crime”
Uludağ’s defense lawyer, Tora Pekin, said the prosecutor had failed to demonstrate which statements constituted a criminal element. Stressing that the posts amounted to political criticism, Pekin referred to rulings by Turkey’s Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights, saying freedom of expression must be protected.
Pekin said the elements of the alleged offense under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code had not been formed and that there was no concrete fact indicating a risk of flight or evidence tampering. He requested that the arrest demand be rejected.
Arrest decision
Following the defense statements, the Istanbul 9th Criminal Judgeship of Peace ruled for Uludağ’s arrest. He was subsequently sent to prison.
