- This week, trials related to freedom of expression and journalistic activities continue to be held in various cities across Turkey.
- Violations experienced by journalists while covering news events, arrests during protests, and various charges brought against them are once again being brought to court.
- Meanwhile, a key hearing in a critical case concerning a series of unsolved murders will also take place this week.
Monday, February 9, 2026
10:00 – The 14th hearing in the case concerning 22 unsolved murders, including those of prominent public intellectuals Uğur Mumcu, Muammer Aksoy, Bahriye Üçok, and Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, will be held at the Ankara 5th High Criminal Court. One of the central figures in the case, Oğuz Demir, is accused of being a member of the illegal organization “Tevhid Selam/Quds Army” and of placing the bomb in Uğur Mumcu’s car.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
10:45 – The second hearing in the trial of journalist Öznur Değer, accused of insulting a police officer while covering a women’s march in Midyat, will be held at the Midyat 1st Criminal Court of First Instance. She is being tried for “insulting a public official.”
11:20 – A hearing in the trial of Süleyman Ekinci on charges of “insulting the president” will take place at the İzmir 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance.
14:20 – The second hearing in the trial of journalist Feyza Nur Çalıkoğlu, who is charged with “publicly disseminating misleading information” for reporting on alleged abuse at the Çatalca Removal Center, will be held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The case was opened following a complaint by the Directorate General of Migration Management under the Ministry of Interior.
14:30 – The third hearing in the trial of journalist Ercüment Akdeniz, who is in pre-trial detention on charges of “membership in an organization,” will be held at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court. Akdeniz was released at this hearing. A travel ban remains in place.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
09:45 – The sixth hearing in the trial of journalist Perihan Kaya, accused of insulting former Tatvan Mayor Mehmet Emin Geylani, will be held at the Tatvan 1st Criminal Court of First Instance. An outstanding arrest warrant against Kaya is still pending enforcement.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
09:33 – The first hearing in the trial of journalist Mehmet Üçar, charged with “membership in an organization” over articles published in Yeni Özgür Politika and PolitikArt, will be held at the Batman 2nd High Criminal Court.
11:00 – The first hearing in the trial of academic Aslı Aydemir, who was arrested for protesting an attack on the LeManmagazine’s office in Beyoğlu, will be held at the Istanbul 8th Criminal Court of First Instance. She is charged with “resisting to prevent an official from performing their duty.” Aydemir had been arrested on July 4 and was released on January 14 after spending 190 days in Silivri Prison.
Friday, February 13, 2026
10:00 – The second hearing in the trial of 66 individuals, including Zişan Gür, who were detained while covering the Saraçhane protests, will be held at the Istanbul 26th Criminal Court of First Instance. They are charged with “participating in an unlawful assembly and march without arms and failing to disperse despite warnings.”
10:00 – The 13th hearing in the trial of 23 individuals who participated in a commemoration of the Suruç massacre will be held at the Ankara 68th Criminal Court of First Instance. The defendants are charged with “violating Law No. 2911” on assemblies and demonstrations and “resisting to prevent an official from performing their duty.”
14:30 – The fourth hearing in the trial of journalists Barış Pehlivan, Suat Toktaş, Kürşad Oğuz, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker will be held at the Istanbul 54th Criminal Court of First Instance. They are accused of “recording and publishing non-public conversations between individuals” due to the publication of a conversation with expert witness Satılmış Büyükcanayakın.
