In the past week, one journalist was arrested, five journalists appeared in court, and three journalists were hit with new legal cases. An arrest warrant was issued for a journalist abroad, and at least one journalist received threats over their reporting.
Here are the key developments in press freedom and courtroom proceedings from the week of June 23:
Journalist Metin Yoksu arrested
Journalist Metin Yoksu, who was wanted in an investigation based in Artvin, northeastern Turkey, was arrested after voluntarily going to the Batman Courthouse on Friday, June 26, to give a statement. He was first referred to court with a request for his arrest and then taken into custody. Yoksu sent a message from prison calling for solidarity, saying he would continue to resist through collective struggle. Four other journalists had previously been arrested as part of the same investigation.
From the courtrooms:
ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür released
The first hearing in the trial of ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür, who had been jailed on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization,” was held at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court. At the initial hearing, the court ruled to release Müldür under judicial control conditions, which include a travel ban and mandatory weekly check-ins. The court decided to continue the detention of two other individuals and postponed the trial until Sept. 18.
Trial of JINNEWS reporter Derya Ren
Derya Ren, who was detained while reporting on a femicide case in the Nizip district of Gaziantep province, appeared in her second hearing on charges of “insulting a public official due to their duty.” The hearing took place at the Nizip 5th Criminal Court of First Instance. Ren did not attend the session, but her lawyer was present. The court acquitted Ren of all charges.
Trial of Yeni Yaşam newspaper distributor Zilan Gül
Zilan Gül, who was detained while distributing the Yeni Yaşam newspaper in Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey, appeared in her second hearing on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” and “knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization.” The hearing was held at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court. Gül did not appear in court, but her lawyer was present. The court sentenced her to 2 years and 1 month in prison for “knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization.”
Bekir Aslan, known as ‘Basel,’ released in first hearing
Bekir Aslan, known on social media as “Basel,” was released after spending 77 days in pretrial detention. The first hearing in his trial on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” took place at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court.
Aslan was arrested on April 11, a day after being detained during a protest held by the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) in Istanbul’s Gülhane Park. He had been jailed based on social media posts, including a photo of a protest banner with “DEV-GENZ” and a retweet of a song by the banned leftist music group Grup Yorum. He was brought to court under gendarmerie escort.
Hearing in Buse Söğütlü’s case held
The third hearing in the case of journalist Buse Söğütlü and four others, who are on trial at the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of “insult,” “resisting to prevent duty,” and “violating Law No. 2911 on demonstrations,” was held without a judge present due to a leave of absence. The case was reviewed on paper and postponed to a later date. Söğütlü was detained while covering the Feminist Night March.
Journalist İdris Yılmaz’s conviction overturned, retrial begins
Journalist İdris Yılmaz, represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), is being retried after the Court of Cassation overturned a conviction against him for “insult.” The retrial is taking place at the Erciş 1st Criminal Court of First Instance. Yılmaz joined the hearing via the SEGBİS video system from the Istanbul 47th Criminal Court of First Instance. In his defense statement, Yılmaz said: “Journalists work for the public’s right to know. I was covering a story in the field when I was assaulted by a police officer without any warning.” His lawyer, Hazal Sümeli, requested that video footage of the incident be added to the case file, but the court rejected the request. The case was forwarded to the prosecutor for their opinion on the merits, and the next hearing was scheduled for Sept. 3.
Two separate cases against writer Gökhan Yavuzel for insulting the president
Writer Gökhan Yavuzel, who is represented by MLSA, is facing two separate trials at the Şanlıurfa 4th Criminal Court of First Instance for allegedly insulting the president in social media posts. In both cases, the prosecutor repeated the demand for conviction. The judge in both cases filed an excuse and postponed the hearings. The next hearings were scheduled for Feb. 5, 2025.
Constitutional Court rules in favor of Hayko Bağdat
The Constitutional Court ruled that the sentence handed down to journalist Hayko Bağdat for his social media post “Sana ne be manyak” (“What’s it to you, maniac?”) violated his right to freedom of expression. Bağdat is represented by MLSA.
New cases, threats, and prison conditions for journalists
DİSK Basın-İş reports: Journalist Eylem Yılmaz held in inhumane conditions
Journalist Eylem Yılmaz, who was arrested in Artvin, is reportedly sleeping on the floor with only a blanket and no pillow due to overcrowding in Artvin Closed Prison. The press union DİSK Basın-İş revealed the conditions and called for the immediate release of Yılmaz and all imprisoned journalists.
Journalist Zeynep Durgut threatened after reporting on 'prostitution ring'
Mezopotamya Agency reporter Zeynep Durgut received threats following her reporting on a “prostitution ring” in Şırnak that allegedly involved both a specialist sergeant and a noncommissioned officer. Durgut was reportedly contacted and threatened by the family of defendant Kenan Tatar.
No prosecution in social media investigation against journalist Rabia Önver
The Yüksekova Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office decided not to pursue charges against journalist Rabia Önver, who was under investigation for “publicly inciting hatred and enmity” due to her social media posts. The decision stated that her posts fell within the scope of “freedom of thought and expression.” The investigation had been launched over her posts related to police violence following the appointment of a trustee to Batman Municipality, as well as several news reports she shared.
Case opened against journalist Berivan Kutlu
An indictment was filed against journalist Berivan Kutlu based on her television appearances after the Feb. 6, 2023 earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş. The indictment, filed by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and accepted by the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court, accuses her of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.” The first hearing is set for Oct. 16. In the indictment, Kutlu is quoted as saying, “This isn’t really a search-and-rescue operation, it’s an effort to destroy evidence. Village guards brought in from Şırnak are forcing people away. They have effectively left people to die,” which prosecutors cited as the basis for the charge.
Indictment for Mehmet Uçar, case filed against Altan Sancar
An indictment against journalist Mehmet Uçar has been accepted, with the first hearing set for July 8 in Batman. Separately, journalist Altan Sancar is facing charges of “publicly spreading misleading information” over a social media post speculating about the possible government appointment of a trustee to the Republican People’s Party (CHP) on April 16, 2025. A date for the first hearing has not yet been announced.
Censorship, publication bans, and arrest warrants
Access blocked to Kaos GL’s X account and website
Access to the X (formerly Twitter) account of Kaos GL, an LGBTQ+ rights group, was blocked, followed by a ban on its news website kaosgl.org. The group has since launched a new account and called for public support against censorship.
RTÜK threatens license ban for Altaylı’s YouTube channel
Turkey’s media regulator RTÜK warned that access to journalist Fatih Altaylı’s YouTube channel could be blocked if a broadcast license is not obtained.
Calls for Fatih Altaylı’s release
International press freedom organizations have called for the immediate release of journalist Fatih Altaylı. The Media Solidarity Group issued a statement saying his detention is unacceptable and that thought should not be criminalized.
Arrest warrant issued for journalist Nedim Türfent
The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Yüksekova, a district of Hakkari province near Turkey’s southeastern border, has issued an arrest warrant for journalist Nedim Türfent on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.” Türfent, currently in Germany under a guest writer program organized by an international press freedom organization, is being investigated over various news-related posts and retweets from his X account. Some of the posts cited in the new investigation had already been part of a previous case for which Türfent served time.
