This week as well, across all parts of Turkey, trials continue regarding freedom of expression, journalistic activity, the right to democratic protest, and artistic production.
Courts will host many hearings where journalists, artists, student activists, and lawyers are being tried.
Particularly, lawsuits opened due to social media posts, peaceful protests, news content, and cultural productions draw attention in terms of press and freedom of expression.
Monday, January 12, 2026
09:30 – The hearing of the case opened against those who were detained on the grounds of participating in the protest held against a conference at Boğaziçi University attended by Nurettin Yıldız, and T24 reporter Can Öztürk, whose legal defense is undertaken by MLSA, will be held at Istanbul 69th Criminal Court of First Instance.
The defendants are charged with “resisting to prevent duty” and “participating unarmed in illegal meetings and demonstrations and not dispersing despite warning.”
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
10:00 – The 12th hearing of the case opened against journalist Metin Cihan due to his social media posts upon the complaint of then Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak will be held at Istanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance.The arrest warrant against Cihan has still not been executed.
10:00 – The trial opened against Cumhuriyet News Editor Can Uğur under the “law on combating disinformation,” due to a news report published by Cumhuriyet on June 17, 2025, titled “Was the fate of 1 million students played with? It is claimed that LGS questions were shared in a WhatsApp group before the exam ended,” will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
10:50 – The hearing of the case opened against Zafer Arapkirli on the charge of “insulting the President” due to his social media posts will be held at Istanbul 60th Criminal Court of First Instance.
In the hearings, lawyer Ahmet Özel attends on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is the plaintiff.
The case was opened following a complaint by Türkiye newspaper columnist Cem Küçük.
In the case brought to the Constitutional Court, preparation of the opinion is awaited.
The hearings are also followed by the Turkish Journalists’ Association and many journalists as observers.
14:30 – The hearing of the case opened against journalist İsmail Arı on charges of “slander” and “insult” upon the complaint of Levent Uysal, founder of Nişantaşı Education Foundation, will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
09:35 – The 23rd hearing of the case opened against artist Ferhat Tunç on the charge of “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility” due to social media posts will be held at Istanbul Büyükçekmece 4th Criminal Court of First Instance.
The execution of the arrest warrant issued against Tunç is awaited.
Thursday, January 15, 2026
09:20 – The seventh hearing of the case in which lawyer Adile Salman is tried on the charge of “membership in an organization” due to her membership in the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) and her professional activities will be held at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.
The court had previously postponed the hearing on the grounds of waiting for another file.
10:00 – The hearing of the case opened against journalist-author Ercan Aktaş under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for the charge of “insulting the Turkish nation, the state, the parliament, the government, and the judicial organs,” will be held at Küçükçekmece 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance.
MLSA is undertaking the legal defense of Aktaş.
11:25 – The first hearing, after the Constitutional Court’s violation ruling, of the case opened against journalist Ceren Bala Teke Yenilmez, whose legal defense is undertaken by MLSA, due to social media posts upon the complaint of İhsan Şenocak, will be held at Istanbul 9th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Friday, January 16, 2026
10:00 – The third hearing of the case opened against journalist Ahmet Kanbal due to his statements in a live broadcast from Adıyaman after the Maraş-centered earthquakes will be held at Adıyaman 5th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Charge: “publicly disseminating misleading information.”
10:00 – The trial of 23 people who are being tried on the grounds of participating in the commemoration of the Suruç massacre will continue at Ankara 68th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Names such as Zeynep Ülger, Betül Gökçe Akgöl, and Barış Deniz Kuş are among the defendants.
The hearing had been postponed to take the defense statements of all defendants.
15:00 – The first hearing of the annulment lawsuit filed regarding the film Rojbash, produced by Özkan Küçük and telling the story of Kurdish theater actors coming together after 25 years, following the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s decision that the film is “not suitable for commercial circulation,” will be held at Ankara 3rd Administrative Court.
The legal defense of the film is undertaken by MLSA.
