In 10 cases involving journalists, lawyers, students and many others, courts acquitted 542 people. In only one case did the court order a criminal complaint to be filed over allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
Rabia Çetin
Following the cancellation of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's university diploma in March 2025 and his detention on March 19, 2025, followed by his arrest, a series of protests erupted in Istanbul's Saraçhane district. Additional demonstrations were held on the 100th day of İmamoğlu's detention. In the "Saraçhane cases" brought against those detained during the protests, a total of 542 people were acquitted during the 2025-2026 judicial year.
Between October 2025 and July 2026, courts concluded 10 cases involving four lawyers, 10 journalists and numerous students. In most of the Saraçhane cases, prosecutors sought prison sentences ranging from six months to three years on charges of violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations, and up to four years on charges of insulting the president.
In most of the Saraçhane cases, particularly students told the courts they had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment during their detention and pretrial imprisonment. However, in only one case did the court, alongside its acquittal ruling, order that a criminal complaint be filed over the allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
The acquittal rulings issued in the Saraçhane cases monitored by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) during the 2025-2026 judicial year are as follows, in chronological order:
Oct. 31, 2025
The verdict in the trial of 110 people detained on March 26, 2025, in connection with the Saraçhane protests was delivered on Oct. 31, 2025, by the Istanbul 61st Criminal Court of First Instance. The court acquitted all defendants, citing case law from Turkey's Court of Cassation and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in its reasoning.
Nov. 27, 2025
The trial of journalists Emre Orman, Kurtuluş Arı, Gökhan Kam, Hayri Tunç, Ali Onur Tosun, Yasin Akgül, Zeynep Ceren Kuray and Bülent Kılıç, who were detained on March 24, 2025, while covering the Saraçhane protests and jailed before being released on appeal on March 27, 2025, along with four lawyers, ended in acquittal at the second hearing on Nov. 27, 2025, before the Istanbul 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Nov. 28, 2025
The Istanbul 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance also acquitted 87 people tried for participating in the Saraçhane protests. In its final opinion, the prosecutor said the defendants had taken part in the demonstrations unarmed and without engaging in violence, and that there was no evidence they had committed or incited any violent acts or statements, requesting their acquittal. The court adopted the prosecutor's opinion and acquitted all defendants individually on the grounds that it had not been proven they had committed the alleged offense.
Jan. 23, 2026
The Istanbul 19th Criminal Court of First Instance delivered its verdict on Jan. 23, 2026, in the trial of 35 people detained during the Saraçhane rally marking the 100th day of İmamoğlu's detention. The court acquitted the defendants, who had been tried on charges of violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations, as well as seven young people who had remained in pretrial detention on charges of insulting the president.
March 4, 2026
On March 4, 2026, the Istanbul 64th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted 35 people, including Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Engin Deniz İpek, who had been investigated following the Saraçhane rally marking the 100th day of İmamoğlu's detention. The defendants had been charged with participating unarmed in an unlawful assembly and refusing to disperse despite police warnings.
March 30, 2026
At a hearing on March 30, 2026, the Istanbul 49th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted 139 people tried for participating in the Saraçhane protests, citing insufficient evidence and the absence of the elements of a criminal offense. Those acquitted included former Republican People's Party (CHP) Party Council member Berkay Gezgin, who is known for the slogan "Everything will be very beautiful."
April 2, 2026
The Istanbul 20th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted seven people tried on charges of participating unarmed in an unlawful assembly and refusing to disperse despite police warnings for taking part in the Saraçhane protests.
April 10, 2026 – A first in the Saraçhane cases: Criminal complaint ordered over torture allegations
At a hearing on April 10, 2026, the Istanbul 49th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted 49 people tried for attending the March 25, 2025, rally in Istanbul. For the first time in the Saraçhane cases, the court also ordered that a criminal complaint be filed over allegations of torture and ill-treatment during the defendants' detention and imprisonment.
The defendants and their lawyers told the court they had been subjected to beatings, handcuffing behind the back, denial of access to medication, solitary confinement, problems accessing hygiene facilities and water, and other treatment incompatible with human dignity while in police custody and prison.
July 3, 2026
At a hearing on July 3, 2026, the Istanbul 26th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted 66 people, including Sendika.org reporter Zişan Gür, who had been detained while covering the Saraçhane protests and tried on charges of participating unarmed in an unlawful assembly and refusing to disperse despite police warnings.
July 10, 2026
University student Esila Ayık, who was detained during the March 19 protests and remained in pretrial detention for 37 days despite health problems before being released at a hearing on May 15, 2025, was acquitted along with two other students at the verdict hearing held on July 10, 2026, before the Istanbul Anatolian 77th Criminal Court of First Instance.
