Vedat Örüç, a journalist represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), was released under a foreign travel ban after spending 130 days in pretrial detention on charges of membership in a terrorist organization. The first hearing in his case was held at the 6th High Criminal Court in the southern Turkish city of Mersin. The court postponed the second hearing to September 16 at 5 p.m.
Örüç was arrested on Jan. 17 along with six other journalists and formally jailed three days later. Prosecutors accuse him of being part of the press committee of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a group the Turkish government considers to be linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has led an insurgency against the Turkish state for decades.
The indictment cited Örüç’s employment record with Medya Haber TV as evidence, based on his Social Security registration. Prosecutors also listed the fact that he was seen walking in public with fellow journalists Eylem Babayiğit and Bervian Karatoprak as proof of "organizational association."
In his defense statement, Örüç rejected the accusations, saying he worked for Güncel Medya Production, a company that supplies content to Medya Haber, but was not employed directly by the channel. He said the company produces news, documentaries and cultural programs. Örüç, a journalism graduate currently pursuing a master’s degree, emphasized that he works as an independent journalist.
Responding to a phone call presented as evidence, Örüç explained that the conversation was with someone he was romantically involved with. He said they discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, during which he criticized Israeli colonialism while noting that Kurds do not seek similar aims. He accused prosecutors of presenting the transcript in a distorted manner:
"I said 'Kurdish process,' but the transcript says 'Kurdish border.' This kind of misrepresentation creates unlawful evidence."
Örüç also denied that walking in public with other journalists constitutes criminal behavior:
"Walking with journalists cannot be used as evidence of membership in a terrorist organization."
The court also questioned him on topics unrelated to the main charges, including the meaning of "Jineology"—which Örüç defined as the science of women—and whether books found at the production company belonged to him. He said he often travels to Istanbul for work and reports on environmental and ecological issues.
MLSA attorney Hazal Sürmeli argued that Örüç’s Social Security registration was linked to the production company, not the broadcaster, and that journalists cannot be held accountable for the editorial policies of the platforms that purchase their content:
"A journalist is not bound by the editorial line of the outlet that broadcasts their work. This is established in law."
Sürmeli also criticized the indictment for treating the term "Kurdistan" as incriminating:
"The term 'Kurdistan' is used today as a geographic designation. Court of Cassation rulings confirm that it cannot be treated as criminal."
She noted that others who worked at the same company or walked with Örüç—such as journalist Velat Ekin—had previously been acquitted of similar charges. The defense requested both release and acquittal.
Although the prosecutor argued for continued detention, the court instead ruled to examine Örüç’s digital materials and ordered his release under a travel ban. The next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.
