This week, many journalists and legal professionals are appearing before the judge within the scope of freedom of expression. Among the defendants are bar association executives, international press members, and independent journalists; they are being prosecuted for social media posts, news content, and professional activities. The cases will be heard in courts located in various provinces such as Istanbul, Diyarbakır, Mersin, and Bakırköy.
Monday, January 5, 2026
09:30 – The first hearing of the case against journalist Özge Kar Odabaş, filed due to a social media post on the charge of “publicly degrading a segment of the population based on social class, religion, or sect,” will be held at the Gaziosmanpaşa 16th Criminal Court of First Instance. MLSA is undertaking the legal defense of the case.
10:00 – The third hearing of the case filed against Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu and board members Rukiye Leyla Süren, Hürrem Sönmez, Ahmet Ergin, Metin İriz, Mehmedali Barış Beşli, Yelda Koçak Urfa, Fırat Epözdemir, Ezgi Şahin Yalvarıcı, Ekim Bilen Selimoğlu, and Bengisu Kadı Çavdar on charges of “making propaganda for an organization” and “publicly disseminating misleading information” will be held at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court. The case was opened due to the bar association’s social media statements.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
09:00 – The case filed against journalist Hakkı Boltan on charges of “insulting the President” and “insulting a public official” will be held at the Diyarbakır 12th Criminal Court of First Instance.
10:00 – The hearing of the case filed against journalist Barış Pehlivan on charges of “slander” and “insult” upon the complaint of Court of Cassation member Yüksel Kocaman will be held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
10:00 – The hearing of the case filed against journalist Reyhan Hacıoğlu on the charge of “membership in an organization” will be held at the Van 2nd High Criminal Court.
14:00 – The second hearing of the case filed against Barış Pehlivan on the charge of “insulting a public official,” upon the complaint of Boğaziçi University Rector Mehmet Naci İnci, will again be held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
08:40 – The tenth hearing of the case filed against journalist Perihan Kaya on the charge of “making propaganda for an organization” will be held at the Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court. The execution of the arrest warrant is awaited.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
10:00 – The second hearing of the case filed against Swedish journalist Kaj Joakim Medin on charges of “membership in an organization” and “making propaganda for an organization” will be held at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court.
10:00 – The fifth hearing of the case filed against Nilay Can, Dinçer Gökçe, Veysi Dündar, and İrem Çiçek on the charge of “disinformation” under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code, due to news stories they produced about the “Yenidoğan gang prosecutor,” will be held at the Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The defendants had requested time to prepare their defense statements in response to the opinion of the prosecution.
10:30 – The fourth hearing of the case filed against journalist Vedat Örüç on the charge of “membership in an organization” due to news coverage and social media posts will be held at the Mersin 6th High Criminal Court.
