MLSA - An Istanbul court has sentenced journalist Rahime Karvar to 1 year and 13 months in prison on charges of “aiding a terrorist organization,” over her work with a TV program accused of disseminating propaganda. While the court lifted her electronic ankle monitor and signature requirement, it ruled to maintain her travel ban.
The fourth hearing in the trial was held Thursday at the 24th High Criminal Court in Istanbul. Karvar was initially charged with “membership in a terrorist organization,” a more severe charge under Turkish law. The prosecution repeated its previous opinion during the hearing.
In her defense statement, Karvar rejected the allegations, stating that her actions fell entirely within the scope of journalism. “Journalism is not a crime,” she said.
Her lawyer, Elif Taşdöğen, emphasized that Karvar is a journalist and feminist activist. She argued that her client served solely as a moderator on the TV program in question and should not be held responsible for the opinions expressed by the guests. Taşdöğen also challenged the inclusion of the word “Kurdistan” in Karvar’s news reports as grounds for prosecution.
Taşdöğen requested the removal of the electronic ankle monitor, saying it severely restricted Karvar’s life, including her ability to travel outside Istanbul.
In her final remarks to the court, Karvar said: “All my activities are within the scope of journalism. Whatever the verdict, I will continue to practice journalism. I request my acquittal and the lifting of judicial control measures.”
Background on the case
Karvar was detained on Jan. 17, 2025, as part of an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, along with fellow Medya Haber TV staffers Ahmet Güneş, Welat Ekin, Vedat Örüç, Necla Demir, and Reyhan Hacıoğlu. She was formally arrested on Jan. 20 on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.”
According to the indictment completed on March 24, prosecutors claimed that Karvar’s role as presenter of the program “Mercek” on Medya Haber TV—described in the indictment as a “broadcast outlet of the PKK/KCK”—was evidence of criminal activity. They alleged that airing statements by senior figures of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) constituted “organizational propaganda and agitation,” and claimed Karvar held a systematic role in the group’s media structure.
While this trial was ongoing, a separate investigation conducted in 2022 by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in the northwestern city of Tekirdağ led to a police raid on the headquarters of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district. During that operation, authorities seized numerous digital materials and recovered deleted data through forensic methods. Based on these files, the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched another investigation into Karvar on similar “membership in a terrorist organization” charges.
Due to overlapping charges, the Mersin office transferred the case to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on grounds of jurisdiction. On Sept. 16, 2025, the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court decided to merge the two cases.
