At least eight court hearings involving 32 individuals were monitored across Turkey during the week of Nov. 3, as free expression-related prosecutions continued. Among those on trial were 12 journalists, two writers, one artist, three activists, two politicians, two students and one academic. Observers reported being allowed into most courtrooms without obstruction.
Journalist Ahmet Kanbal’s trial postponed to January
Ahmet Kanbal, a journalist facing charges of "publicly spreading misleading information" over a livestream he broadcast following the devastating earthquakes in southeastern Turkey on Feb. 6, 2023, appeared before the Mardin 5th Criminal Court of First Instance. The court postponed the trial until Jan. 16, 2026, to await the transfer of his previously recorded testimony to Mardin.
Writer Azad Zal appears before High Criminal Court again
Writer Azad Zal stood trial again at the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of a broader case concerning the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), a pro-Kurdish civil society platform. While the prosecutor submitted the final opinion on the case, Zal’s lawyer requested additional time to prepare a defense statement. The trial was adjourned to Jan. 26, 2026.
Journalists on trial over story on prosecutor tied to criminal network
At the Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Istanbul, journalists Nilay Can, Dinçer Gökçe, Veysi Dündar and İrem Çiçek stood trial for allegedly “spreading misleading information to the public” in connection with a news report about a prosecutor linked to the so-called “Yenidoğan gang.” The defendants requested more time to respond to the prosecutor’s final opinion. The next hearing is set for Jan. 8, 2026.
Case over protest against political trustee in Istanbul
Twenty defendants, including journalist Fatoş Erdoğan and academic Emrah Gülsunar, are being tried at the Istanbul 9th Criminal Court of First Instance for allegedly “inciting the public to commit crimes” during a protest against the appointment of a government trustee to the Istanbul branch of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The court sent the case back to the prosecutor to resolve inconsistencies in the indictment. The trial will continue on Jan. 28, 2026.
Journalists acquitted over memorial for Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin
The Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court acquitted journalists Hayri Tunç, Gülistan Dursun, Pınar Gayıp and eight others who were charged over a press statement held in Istanbul’s Şişhane district in memory of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, activists who had died during protests.
Hakkı Boltan faces charges of insulting president and public official
Journalist Hakkı Boltan appeared before the Diyarbakır 12th Criminal Court of First Instance, where he is being tried for “insulting the president” and “insulting a public official.” The court postponed the hearing to Jan. 6, 2025, to allow the prosecution to prepare its final opinion.
Perihan Kaya’s trial on propaganda charges adjourned
Journalist Perihan Kaya appeared before the Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court, facing charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.” The hearing was postponed until Dec. 24, 2025, to allow the prosecutor to finalize the case.
Ferhat Tunç’s case postponed in his absence
The Istanbul 37th High Criminal Court postponed the trial of exiled artist Ferhat Tunç, who faces charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.” As Tunç remains abroad and did not attend the hearing, the court decided to wait for the execution of the arrest warrant and adjourned proceedings until March 24, 2026.
Mehmet Oflaz hearing held over secrecy violation charges
A preliminary hearing was held in Ankara for journalist Mehmet Oflaz, who is charged with “violating the confidentiality of an investigation” over a news report published in Cumhuriyet newspaper. The main trial is scheduled to take place at the Konya Criminal Court of First Instance on Dec. 1, 2025.
Other key developments in freedom of expression this week
In Istanbul, several journalists—Şaban Sevinç, Yavuz Oğhan, Soner Yalçın, Batuhan Çolak and Ruşen Çakır—gave statements to police on Friday as part of an investigation linked to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). All were released the same day.
The first hearing was held in the case of a gun attack on the Izmir bureau of Evrensel newspaper. The court ruled to keep the detained suspect, İsa Can Biler, in custody and ordered an additional investigation to identify the instigators of the attack.
Journalist İsmail Arı of BirGün was acquitted in a trial where he faced charges of “insulting a public official” over a news story about ruling AKP politician Rıza Uçan allegedly assaulting a citizen.
Yenigün newspaper editor-in-chief Hakan Dirik was sentenced to 10 months in prison in a case related to a Cumhuriyetstory published during his time at the paper, concerning claims of chemical weapons material shipments.
The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court refused to implement a Constitutional Court ruling on urban planner Tayfun Kahraman. In its justification, the court argued that the Constitutional Court “cannot act as a super appeals body,” signaling increasing judicial defiance against top court rulings.
In another high-profile case, journalist Barış Terkoğlu and former military judge Ahmet Zeki Üçok are standing trial in a case where the court decided to include in the file an indictment against a prosecutor that the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) had claimed did not exist.
Additionally, Emrullah Turanlı, owner of Taşyapı Construction, filed a criminal complaint against Terkoğlu and executives at Cumhuriyet TV over a news story concerning a controversial real estate project in Istanbul’s upscale Etiler district.
Finally, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling on imprisoned Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş has become final, and that relevant judicial bodies in Turkey would review the decision.
