Deniz Tekin
The trial of lawyer Necat Çiçek, who is facing charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” due to his legal work and participation in press statements, was postponed Thursday by the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court in southeastern Turkey. The fifth hearing in the case was delayed to address procedural gaps in the case file. The court also ruled to maintain a travel ban imposed on Çiçek.
Çiçek and his legal team attended the hearing, which was also observed by representatives of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), the Diyarbakır Bar Association, and numerous lawyers.
The prosecutor requested that deficiencies in the case file be resolved. Çiçek also called for the gaps to be addressed. His lawyer, Mehdi Özdemir, requested that a copy of a separate investigation file opened against Çiçek in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ be submitted to the court and called for the travel ban on his client to be lifted. Özdemir further argued that the monitoring of attorney-client meetings in prison was unlawful and noted that the Constitutional Court had annulled the legal provisions cited as justification for such surveillance. He demanded Çiçek’s acquittal.
Another defense attorney, Gizem Miran, highlighted that the judicial control measures, including the travel ban, had been in place for over two years and were obstructing Çiçek’s ability to carry out his professional duties. She also requested that the restrictions be lifted.
The court decided to drop the planned testimony of a witness, to formally request the investigation file from the Tekirdağ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, and to continue enforcing the travel ban. The next hearing was scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025.
Case background
Necat Çiçek was detained on April 25, 2023, as part of a sweeping investigation initiated based on the statements of a cooperating witness, Ümit Akbıyık. On the same day, coordinated operations across 20 provinces led to the detention of approximately 200 individuals, including journalists, politicians, and artists.
Of the 22 lawyers detained, 18 were released under travel bans, while four were formally arrested. The indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office seeks a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for Çiçek, citing his membership in ÖHD, participation in press conferences, and allegations that he relayed instructions to members of an outlawed group.
