During the week of March 30, 2026, trials opened within the scope of journalism, freedom of expression and political activities will be seen in different cities of Turkey. In hearings in Istanbul, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep and Batman, journalists, writers, academics and politicians will appear before judges. In particular, the first hearing of documentary filmmaker Koray Kesik is also among the notable files of this week.
Monday, March 30, 2026
11:00 – The case opened against human rights defender Nimet Tanrıkulu on the allegation of “membership in an organization” will be seen at the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court. The court that issued a lack of jurisdiction decision in the case in which Tanrıkulu is being tried in Istanbul on the same charge sent the file to Diyarbakır last week with a request for consolidation.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
09:25 – The 3rd hearing of the case in which writer Gökhan Yavuzel, whose defense is undertaken by MLSA, is being tried on the charge of making propaganda for an organization will be seen at the Şanlıurfa 5th High Criminal Court.
10:05 – The 15th hearing of the case against Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Erol Önderoğlu and Ahmet Nesin, who are being tried on the grounds that they supported the Co-Editor-in-Chief on Duty Campaign of the Özgür Gündem newspaper, will be seen at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court on charges of “making propaganda for an organization,” “publicly inciting to commit a crime,” and “praising the crime and the criminal.”
11:40 – The hearing of the case opened against Süleyman Ekinci on the charge of insulting the president will be seen at the İzmir 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
10:00 – The hearing of the case opened against Newroz Organizing Committee members İrfan Söner, Hanife Kardaş, Mehmet Bakır, Rıza Barut, Zelal Bilgin, Yusuf Acar and Serhan Özdemir will be seen at the Diyarbakır 19th Criminal Court of First Instance on the charge of “opposition to Law No. 2911.”
10:23 – The hearing of the case in which journalist Deniz Yücel, whose defense is undertaken by MLSA, is being tried due to his social media posts on the charge of insulting a public official due to their duty will be seen at the Ankara 18th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
09:00 – The first hearing of the case in which documentary filmmaker Koray Kesik, whose defense is undertaken by MLSA, is being tried on the charge of “making propaganda for an organization” due to taking part in the 2013 production Bakur documentary will be seen at the Batman 2nd High Criminal Court. In the indictment, documentary works, travels, social media posts and book content are shown as evidence.
09:45 – The hearing in the retrial of sociologist and writer Pınar Selek, whose fourth acquittal in the case related to the Egyptian Bazaar bombing was overturned by the Court of Cassation, will be held at the Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court.
09:30 – The hearing of the case seen against journalist İrfan Uçar, whose defense is undertaken by MLSA, on the allegation of “membership in a terrorist organization” will be seen at the Gaziantep 2nd High Criminal Court.
Friday, April 3, 2026
09:10 – The 3rd hearing of the case opened against journalist Mehmet Uçar on the charge of “being a member of an organization” will be seen at the Batman 2nd High Criminal Court.
