Deniz Tekin
Turkish journalist Aslıhan Gençay is facing both a criminal case and two separate investigations over a report published on the P24 website concerning alleged names linked to sex tapes involving controversial casino boss Halil Falyalı. The article, which was removed by court order, is now the subject of legal action initiated by Turkish authorities, including the Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin.
Gençay is charged with “insult via written, audio or visual message” in a criminal case carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison, and she is also under investigation for “publicly disseminating misleading information”—a charge introduced under Turkey’s so-called “disinformation law.” Both cases stem from the same article, titled “The names in Falyalı’s tapes,” published on April 24, 2025, and subsequently blocked by a court order.
In response to the mounting legal pressure, Gençay said:
“These back-to-back investigations are clearly designed to trap and silence me. I believe the aim is to leave me without a platform to make my voice heard.”
Legal action initiated by education minister over social media post
The criminal case was triggered by a complaint filed by Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment alleging that Gençay insulted a public official by sharing a post on social media summarizing her own article.
According to the indictment, Gençay reposted a tweet from P24’s official account that read:
“Written for #P24Blog: The names in Falyalı’s tapes. Alongside Berat Albayrak, Fuat Oktay, and Yusuf Tekin are also reportedly featured.”
Gençay then added her own caption:
“The names in Falyalı’s tapes; Yusuf Tekin is among the names mentioned. We also investigated Tekin’s alleged links to the Menzil religious sect.”
Prosecutors argue that this post damaged Minister Tekin’s “honor, dignity, and reputation” in connection with his official role. Tekin is listed as the complainant in the case.
Gençay, who was questioned as part of the investigation, told prosecutors that she is a journalist and that the information in the article was verified. She denied all accusations. Nevertheless, the indictment claims her remarks constituted a criminal insult of a public official.
The Ankara 78th Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment and scheduled the first hearing for Jan. 22, 2026.
Second investigation launched under disinformation law
In a separate but related development, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched another investigation against Gençay under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes the “public dissemination of misleading information.” This article was added as part of Turkey’s 2022 “disinformation law,” widely criticized by press freedom groups for enabling censorship.
The new investigation also stems from the same blocked P24 article and has prompted police to summon Gençay for questioning. She is expected to testify in the coming days.
Gençay’s social media accounts also blocked
The journalist said that in addition to the article being blocked by court order after only two days online, her X (formerly Twitter) account was also restricted in Turkey due to her reporting.
“What’s striking is that there’s a string of legal actions based on a report that was online for just two days and explicitly labeled all information as allegations,” she said.
“Former Vice President Fuat Oktay’s retraction request is another layer to this. The essence is that I’m being targeted over a piece that was removed in haste, even though every paragraph specified that the content was alleged.”
“I’m being boxed in through legal pressure”
Gençay, who became unemployed after the closure of P24, said she has been unable to find another outlet to publish her work:
“With these consecutive investigations, I’m being boxed in. The goal seems to be to deprive me of any space to speak or publish. I’m fully aware of what these investigations are really about. They are attacks on press freedom and freedom of expression.”
She added:
“I’ve never published false reports. I clearly distinguish between claims, information, and confirmed facts. I stand by this article and all my reporting. I will continue to defend press freedom and freedom of expression. The judiciary should not be used as a tool for revenge.”
