Deniz Tekin
A Turkish court has ruled to investigate whether other journalists contacted by reporter Mehmet Şah Oruç have been subject to prosecution or investigation, as part of an ongoing case against him over terrorism-related charges. Oruç, who spent six months in pre-trial detention, is facing up to 22.5 years in prison on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorist propaganda.”
The eighth hearing in the case took place at the Bitlis 2nd High Criminal Court in eastern Turkey. Oruç, a former reporter for Mezopotamya News Agency (MA), was not present at the hearing, but his lawyer Resul Temur attended. Observers from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) monitored the proceedings, which were held under tight security with riot police stationed outside the courtroom.
The prosecutor did not submit a final opinion on the case but instead requested an expanded investigation. Specifically, the prosecution asked the court to examine whether any criminal proceedings have been initiated against journalists with whom Oruç had telephone contact, and whether any of them have cooperated with authorities in exchange for leniency. The prosecution also requested access to any related information or documents.
In response, defense lawyer Temur stated that the journalists in question — Ceylan Şahinli, Diren Yurtsever, Selman Guzelyüz, Emrullah Açar, Ertuş Bozkurt, Ahmet Kanbal, and Ömer Çelik — are all professional journalists and are currently facing similar charges in separate cases. Temur also requested that the international travel ban imposed on Oruç be lifted.
The court rejected the request to lift the travel ban and ordered an investigation into whether any judicial proceedings have been initiated against the journalists Oruç contacted, based on mobile communication records. The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026.
Background
Mehmet Şah Oruç was detained on April 25, 2023, in a large-scale crackdown targeting journalists based in southeastern Turkey. He was arrested alongside other reporters and editors including Abdurrahman Gök (MA editor), Ahmet Kanbal (MA reporter), Osman Akın (News Director of Yeni Yaşam newspaper), Kadri Esen (publisher of Xwebûn), Beritan Canözer (JINNEWS reporter), as well as journalists Mehmet Yalçın and Salih Keleş.
Oruç, Gök, and Canözer were formally arrested on April 27, 2023, on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The indictment against Oruç was based on testimony from a secret witness, news stories published under his byline for Mezopotamya Agency, his social media posts, and records of phone calls with other journalists.
The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initially filed the indictment, but the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction, transferring the case to Bitlis, where Oruç resides.
The 63-page indictment accepted by the Bitlis 2nd High Criminal Court cites statements by a witness named Ümit Akbıyık, 35 news articles attributed to Oruç, his social media activity, and his phone conversations with fellow journalists as evidence of criminal activity.
At the first hearing on Sept. 14, 2023, the court denied his release due to incomplete case files. He was eventually released under judicial control measures following the second hearing on Oct. 31.
