Journalists, lawyers, artists, and activists across Turkey are set to appear in court this week on charges related to their exercise of free expression, including social media posts, alleged organizational ties, and participation in protests. Hearings are scheduled in multiple cities under accusations ranging from “insulting public officials” to “membership in a terrorist organization.”
Monday, June 16
At 10 a.m., a high-profile hearing will take place at the Marmara High Security Prison courthouse in Silivri, near Istanbul, where Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is facing charges of “threat,” “publicly insulting a public official due to their duty,” and “targeting individuals involved in anti-terror efforts.” The charges stem from remarks he made during a January 20 panel discussion criticizing Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, in relation to an investigation involving Republican People's Party (CHP) Youth Chair Cem Aydın.
At 2 p.m., the Ankara 57th Criminal Court of First Instance will hear the case of 23 individuals who were detained in front of the courthouse while following the trial of Ethem Sarısülük, a protester killed by police during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. They are charged with violating the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations and resisting police officers.
Tuesday, June 17
At 9:45 a.m., the first retrial hearing for writer Gökhan Yavuzel will be held at the Şanlıurfa 5th High Criminal Court. Yavuzel was previously given a 1 year and 3 month suspended prison sentence for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda through social media. The Constitutional Court ruled that his right to a fair trial had been violated and ordered a retrial, following an appeal by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), which represents him.
At 9:55 a.m., the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court will hear the trial of lawyer Süleyman Şahin, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” for providing legal defense to clients accused of organizational activity.
At 10:15 a.m., journalist Hatice Şahin will appear before the Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court on similar charges of “membership in a terrorist organization,” based on a broader investigation into the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), a Kurdish civil society platform.
At 11 a.m., the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of First Instance will deliver its verdict in the case against a taxi driver accused of harassing lawyer Emine Özhasar, former coordinator of MLSA’s Legal Unit, during a ride to the courthouse.
Wednesday, June 18
At 9 a.m., the İzmir 18th High Criminal Court will continue the trial of Funda Akbulut, a press worker for the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization.” Akbulut was detained during home raids on February 13, 2024, along with Mezopotamya Agency reporters Semra Turan, Delal Akyüz, and Tolga Güney; JINNEWS reporter Melike Aydın; and Gazete Duvar reporter Cihan Başakçıoğlu. She remains under house arrest.
At 10 a.m., journalist Perihan Kaya will appear before the Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court for allegedly “spreading terrorist propaganda” through social media posts.
At 10:45 a.m., a hearing will be held at the Ankara 36th Criminal Court of First Instance for former German Bundestag member Memet Kılıç, who faces charges of “insulting the president” over a 2017 interview. He is also represented by MLSA.
At 11:10 a.m., journalist Abdullah Kaya will appear at the Diyadin Criminal Court of First Instance. He is charged with illegally recording personal data during the May 14, 2023 general elections, when he was allegedly obstructed by a village guard while filming.
Thursday, June 19
At 9:30 a.m., the ninth hearing will take place at the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court in the case of 10 people detained during a festival marking the 20th anniversary of the 1 Mayıs neighborhood in Ümraniye, Istanbul. They are charged with violating the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations and spreading terrorist propaganda. Two defendants also face charges of resisting law enforcement and three with damaging public property.
At 9:55 a.m., journalist Sedef Kabaş will attend her seventh hearing at the Istanbul Anadolu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of “insulting the president.”
At 10:30 a.m., the Ankara 24th High Criminal Court will hear a compensation case filed by MLSA after journalist Sibel Yükler was detained and had her digital materials confiscated over a July 18, 2023 social media post. The case was closed with no prosecution.
At 11:30 a.m., writer and conscientious objector Ercan Aktaş will appear at the Küçükçekmece 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of “insulting the Turkish nation, the state, and its symbols.” MLSA is representing him.
At 11:55 a.m., the fourth hearing of journalist Furkan Karabay will take place at the Istanbul 74th Criminal Court of First Instance. He is charged with “insulting the president” over three social media posts made in 2023. Karabay has been in pretrial detention since May 15 in connection with a new investigation.
At 2:30 p.m., journalist Barış Terkoğlu will appear at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in a case stemming from three opinion pieces in Cumhuriyet newspaper about a defamation lawsuit involving Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The complaint was filed by former Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor İsmail Uçar.
At 2:45 p.m., Terkoğlu will attend an eighth hearing on separate charges of “publicly insulting a public official” in connection with a March 28, 2022 column. The complainant is former Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Hadi Salihoğlu.
In Mersin, the 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance will also hold a hearing in a case combining five files against former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who is accused of “publicly insulting a public official due to their duty.”
Friday, June 20
At 10 a.m., the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court will resume the trial of CHP Youth Chair Cem Aydın at the Silivri prison courthouse. He is accused of “publicly insulting a public official due to their duty” and “targeting individuals involved in anti-terror efforts,” based on a social media video post about Prosecutor Akın Gürlek.
