Medine Mamedoğlu
The 17th hearing in the trial of journalist Sonya Bayık and 30 others, who are being prosecuted for holding a press statement in the southeastern Turkish town of Hasankeyf, has been postponed until March 3, 2026. The group is charged with violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, a common charge used against public protests in Turkey.
The hearing took place at the 9th Criminal Court of First Instance in Batman, a province in southeastern Turkey. The court session began with identity verification of the defendants. Journalist Sonya Bayık’s lawyer, Müslüm Dalar, submitted a written excuse for being unable to attend the hearing.
During the session, the court panel reiterated previous procedural requests and decided to reissue warrants for the apprehension of two defendants who remain at large. The hearing was brief and postponed due to incomplete documentation and pending procedural steps.
