In the week of May 12, at least 24 journalists stood trial in 11 separate hearings across Turkey. One journalist was arrested and another taken into custody. In addition to court proceedings, the week saw a rise in threats against journalists, the lifting of house arrest measures, police violence, and summonses for testimony.
Arrests, releases, detentions and investigations
On May 15, journalist Furkan Karabay was arrested over his reporting on investigations involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). On the same day, Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who had been jailed in March on charges of “insulting the president” and “membership in a terrorist organization,” was released by court order. Medin’s legal defense was undertaken by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).
T24 reporter Can Öztürk was subjected to police violence and detained alongside 96 students while covering a protest against a campus talk by Islamist preacher Nurettin Yıldız at Istanbul’s Boğaziçi University. Though Öztürk was referred for arrest, he was released under judicial supervision with support from MLSA’s legal team.
Journalist Metin Yoksu was summoned to testify over a social media post concerning wildfires in wetlands.
BirGün reporter İsmail Arı received a death threat following a news report he published, with the message reading “don’t get yourself killed.”
Court cases involving journalists
At least 24 journalists appeared in court this week across 11 hearings.
In Diyarbakır, a court refused to lift an international travel ban imposed on 19 journalists currently on trial.
Journalist Evrim Kepenek was sentenced to 10 months in prison for “violating the confidentiality of an investigation.”
In Izmir, JinNews and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters detained in house raids in February 2024 continued to face trial. Journalist Semra Turan was acquitted, while cases against Melike Aydın, Tolga Güney and Delal Akyüz—whose legal defense is also provided by MLSA—were postponed until July 18.
Cases targeting lawyers, students and activists
University students Esila Ayık, Arda Öğüşlü and Mehmet Efe Erdoğan, who were arrested for carrying a banner reading “Dictator Erdoğan” during a solidarity concert in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district, were released from pretrial detention this week.
The trial of lawyer Nazan Betül Kozağaçlı was adjourned to a later date for the submission of the prosecutor’s final opinion.
In another case, the court requested security footage in the trial of nine individuals charged for protesting trade with Israel.
Umut Trial: Former minister Ağar to testify
The long-running Umut Trial, which concerns the assassinations of prominent Turkish intellectuals Uğur Mumcu, Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, Muammer Aksoy and Bahriye Üçok, continued this week. The court ruled that former Interior Minister Mehmet Ağar will testify via videoconference (SEGBİS) at the next hearing.
Developments in house arrest cases
House arrest measures were lifted for two individuals this week. Human rights defender Nurcan Kaya, who was detained in February during an investigation into the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) and placed under house arrest, had her restriction lifted after 86 days. Similarly, journalist İsmail Saymaz, who was detained and later released in connection with the Gezi Park investigation, had his house arrest order revoked on May 16.
Imprisoned journalist Yıldız Tar wins international award
Imprisoned journalist Yıldız Tar was awarded the Special Prize for International LGBTQIA+ Rights by the Municipality of Paris.
MLSA panel revisits press freedom in the digital era
Press freedom in the digital age was the focus of a panel discussion co-organized by the German Consulate General in Istanbul and MLSA, bringing together legal experts and journalists to assess current challenges.
