This week, courts across Turkey will continue hearings in cases involving journalists and freedom of expression, with several proceedings drawing attention due to allegations ranging from resisting law enforcement to disseminating misleading information. The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) will provide live updates on these cases in both Turkish and English via its @MLSADavaTakip account.
January 6, Monday
- 9:50 a.m., Antalya: The 22nd hearing of a case against 17 individuals, including journalist Metin Cihan and MLSA-supported journalists Eylem Sonbahar and Sema Karakurt, will take place at the Antalya 25th Criminal Court of First Instance. The group faces charges of "resisting law enforcement" and "insult" for their involvement in protests during the 2015 G20 summit.
January 7, Tuesday
-
9:30 a.m., Istanbul: The second hearing of a case involving 12 individuals arrested during home raids following May Day demonstrations in Istanbul will be held at the Istanbul 25th Criminal Court of First Instance. The defendants face charges such as "resisting law enforcement" and "participating in illegal demonstrations."
-
9:45 a.m., Istanbul: At the Istanbul 33rd Civil Court of First Instance, the fifth hearing in a lawsuit filed by President Erdoğan's former lawyer Mustafa Doğan İnal against journalist Furkan Karabay and Gerçek Gündem will be heard. The plaintiff seeks damages of 100,000 Turkish lira, citing an alleged violation of personal rights.
-
10:00 a.m., Ayvalık: Journalist Cengiz Erdinç, a writer for Kısa Dalga, will appear for the first hearing at the Ayvalık 1st Criminal Court of First Instance. He faces charges of "openly disseminating misleading information" under the controversial "disinformation law."
-
10:05 a.m., Istanbul: The Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will hold the second hearing in a case against journalist Furkan Karabay. The charges stem from a news article titled “The owner of the room turned out to be a terror prosecutor! Chief prosecutor launches investigation,” allegedly "insulting state judiciary institutions."
-
10:30 a.m., Istanbul: The 11th hearing of a lawsuit filed by former Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak against journalist Hazal Ocak will occur at the Istanbul 33rd Civil Court of First Instance. Albayrak is seeking 200,000 Turkish lira in damages for a news article published in Cumhuriyet in January 2020 titled “The groom knows the business.”
-
10:30 a.m., Diyarbakır: The first hearing of a case against Prof. Dr. Cenap Ekinci, a Dicle University academic detained in December 2024, will take place at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court. Ekinci is charged with "propaganda for a terrorist organization" based on his social media posts.
-
1:30 p.m., Ankara: Journalists Sibel Yükler, Yıldız Tar, and Deniz Nazlım will appear for the fourth hearing at the Ankara 71st Criminal Court of First Instance. They face charges of violating the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations after being detained while protesting the arrest of journalists in Diyarbakır. MLSA represents the defendants.
January 8, Wednesday
-
10:50 a.m., Diyarbakır: The 15th hearing in the case against Ramazan Ölçen, former publisher of Azadiya Welat, will be held at the Diyarbakır 11th High Criminal Court. Ölçen is accused of "membership in a terrorist organization."
-
10:30 a.m., Istanbul: The fifth hearing of a case involving 87 people accused of violating the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations during a protest against the Turkish Red Crescent’s post-earthquake tent sales will take place at the Istanbul Anadolu 44th Criminal Court of First Instance.
-
11:45 a.m., Istanbul: The fifth hearing of a retrial involving journalist Pınar Gayıp and two others charged with "membership in a terrorist organization" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" will take place at the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court.
January 9, Thursday
-
9:30 a.m., Van: Journalist İdris Yılmaz will face the second hearing at the Erciş 4th Criminal Court of First Instance. He is charged with "inciting disobedience to laws" and "publicly disseminating misleading information" following his reports on alleged police violence during municipal protests.
-
9:33 a.m., Ankara: The trial against former German MP Mehmet Kılıç, charged with "insulting the president," continues at the Ankara 36th Criminal Court of First Instance.
-
10:50 a.m., Gaziantep: The first hearing against journalist İrfan Uçar, accused of "membership in a terrorist organization" based on journalistic activities and books in his possession, will take place at the Gaziantep 2nd High Criminal Court.
-
11:15 a.m., Istanbul: Dr. Yusuf Eryazğan, head of the Şanlıurfa Family Physicians Association, will attend the third hearing at the Istanbul 32nd Criminal Court of First Instance. He is charged under the "disinformation law" for comments about vaccine shortages on a television program.
January 10, Friday
-
10:00 a.m., Istanbul: The 14th hearing of the trial against 44 individuals, including MLSA-supported Koray Kesik, for their participation in a peaceful Saturday Mothers protest will be held at the Istanbul 21st Criminal Court of First Instance.
-
10:00 a.m., Istanbul: The ninth hearing in the retrial of 15 public officials accused in connection with the 2007 assassination of Agos editor Hrant Dink will occur at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court.
-
10:30 a.m., Istanbul: Journalist Ziya Çiçekçi faces the 17th hearing at the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court on charges of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" based on 13 social media posts from the Yeni Özgür Politika account.
-
10:30 a.m., Istanbul: Lawyer Dilek Ekmekçi’s third hearing on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization" will be held at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court.
