In November, trials involving 206 individuals—including 86 journalists, 65 activists, and 11 lawyers—were monitored across Turkey. Courts reached verdicts in eight cases, acquitting 14 defendants in six of them, while one defendant received a fine for "insulting a public official due to their duties." Currently, 21 journalists remain in Turkish prisons.
Freedom of expression trials continue amid ongoing pressures
Press and freedom of expression cases persisted in various cities throughout November. According to the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), its trial monitoring unit followed 53 hearings in nine cities during the month, sharing developments bilingually via the @MLSADavaTakip Twitter account.
Who faced trial?
A total of 206 individuals appeared before judges in November. Journalists constituted the largest group, followed by activists. The professions of those on trial included:
- 86 journalists
- 65 activists
- 11 lawyers
- 7 students
- 2 artists
- 3 politicians
- 1 director
Summary of case outcomes
Verdicts were reached in nine cases. Among these:
- Six acquittals, with 14 defendants cleared of charges.
- One case dismissed, involving two defendants.
- One conviction resulted in a financial penalty.
Journalist Gözde Bedeloğlu, a columnist for BirGün, was fined 7,080 Turkish lira for "insulting a public official due to their duties." The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Gaziantep MP Sermet Atay over an article published on April 9, 2023. The Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance ruled that the charges against Bedeloğlu were substantiated.
Additionally, sociologist Veli Saçılık received a 10-month deferred prison sentence under the controversial "censorship law" for allegedly "publicly disseminating misleading information." The case concerned his social media posts about the earthquake response. The Ankara 10th Criminal Court of First Instance suspended the announcement of the verdict.
Cities where hearings were heard
Istanbul hosted the most hearings, with 29 trials taking place in the city. Other prominent locations included:
- Diyarbakır with 12 trials
- Ankara with 9 trials
Single trials were recorded in Ağrı, Bitlis, Edirne, Elazığ, Mersin, and Van.
Common charges
The most frequently cited accusations in November trials were:
- Membership in a "terrorist organization"
- Insulting the president
Other charges often brought in freedom of expression cases included:
| Charge | Frequency of Occurrence |
|---|---|
| Membership in an armed (terror) organization | 8 |
| Insulting the president | 7 |
| Engaging in propaganda for an organization | 6 |
| Insulting a public official due to their duty | 4 |
| Defamation | 3 |
| Insult | 3 |
| Publicly spreading misleading information (Censorship Law) | 3 |
| Violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations | 2 |
| Publicly denigrating the Turkish nation, the Republic of Turkey, or its institutions (Article 301) | 2 |
| Violating the Law on the Prevention of Financing of Terrorism | 2 |
| Unjustly attacking personal rights | 2 |
| Attempting to abolish the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the Government, or the constitutional order | 1 |
| Entering a military restricted zone | 1 |
| Targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism efforts | 1 |
| Violating freedom of work and labor | 1 |
| Failure to publish corrections and responses properly | 1 |
| Inciting hatred and hostility or degrading the public | 1 |
| Threatening to create fear and panic among the public | 1 |
| Illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data | 1 |
