- This week, cases within the scope of freedom of expression continued to be heard in different cities; a total of 83 people were tried, and the majority of the defendants consisted of students, activists and journalists.
- In the trials, most of the case files were postponed due to incomplete defense statements and procedural reasons, and the prolongation of the processes drew attention.
- During the week, cases against journalists and the penalties given, as well as investigations and arrests initiated within the scope of freedom of expression, came to the forefront.
- In hearing observations, sessions starting late, insufficient physical conditions, transcript problems and frequent adjournments brought allegations of violations regarding the right to a fair trial to the agenda.
This week, on April 20, cases filed within the scope of freedom of expression continued to be heard in different cities. In the monitored hearings, a total of 83 defendants were tried in 4 separate cases. While the great majority of these defendants consisted of students and activists, during the week files in which a journalist and an artist were tried also came to the forefront.
In the second hearing of the 21-defendant “boycott” case, which was heard at the Istanbul 39th Criminal Court of First Instance and in which actor Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu is also among the defendants, the acquittal requests of the lawyers were rejected and the file was postponed on the grounds of incomplete defense statements. While the case drew attention with freedom of expression discussions and the defendants’ allegations of ill-treatment in custody, developments took place in this news report.
In the two separate METU cases seen in Ankara, a total of 61 students and activists were tried on the charge of “opposition to Law No. 2911.” The fifth hearing of the Pride March case with 37 defendants and the fourth hearing of the protest case in which 24 students are tried were postponed to later dates on the grounds of completing incomplete defense statements.
In the Ramazan Şimşek case seen at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court, the trial continued on the charge of “organization propaganda,” and the file was postponed for the preparation of the prosecutor’s opinion.
In the case where journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz is being tried under TCK 301 at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, the second hearing was held. In the hearing held after approximately 4.5 months, the file was once again postponed for the prosecutor’s opinion; the delay in the trial drew attention and developments took place in this link.
The sentencing of journalist Mehmet Üçar to 1 year 6 months and 11 days of imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda” and the deferment of the announcement of the verdict took place in this news report.
In the second hearing of the retrial of journalist Neşe İdil, whose defense is undertaken by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), following the violation decision of the Constitutional Court (AYM), the decision was announced. In the case, a prison sentence of 1 year and 3 months was re-established about journalist Neşe İdil. The path of appeal was left open against the decision. It can be read from here regarding the decision.
In the reasoning of the acquittal decision given about Rojhilat Aksoy, the evaluation of the film screening within the scope of freedom of expression was shared in this news report.
Violations of fair trial
While no final decision on the merits has yet been given in all of the cases seen throughout the week, it was observed that the trials progressed largely through adjournments.
According to hearing observations, various problems regarding the right to a fair trial also came to the forefront. It was conveyed that many hearings started late due to workload or courtroom change, that the physical conditions of some courtrooms were insufficient and that especially in crowded files the courtrooms remained small and airless.
In the boycott case, the recording of statements into the transcript incompletely, the interruption of speech during the defense statement, and resorting to the SEGBİS record only after objections drew attention, while in some files an intense police presence was observed.
In addition, the frequent postponement of hearings on the grounds of incomplete defense statements raised question marks regarding the principle of concluding trials within a reasonable time.
Other developments
Among the other developments of the week, the Court of Cassation annulling the RTÜK penalty given to Now TV due to the words of journalist Çiğdem Toker was recorded as an important decision in favor of freedom of expression.
In addition, the application made by MLSA to the Constitutional Court against the detention of journalist Yavuz Akengin and judicial control measures took place in this link.
Kulis TV Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Yetim was arrested on the grounds of his social media post. A new case was opened against journalist Öznur Değer.
An objection was again made to the detention of ETHA reporter Pınar Gayıp, whose defense is undertaken by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), after a detention period of 76 days. In the petition submitted by the MLSA Legal Unit to the on-duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace in Istanbul on April 20, 2026, it was stated that the detention decision was unlawful both in terms of procedure and substance.
An investigation was opened against Abdullah Keskin, the Editor-in-Chief of Kurdish-language Avesta Publishing, on the allegation of “organization propaganda” on the grounds of his posts on the social media platform X between 2021-2025. It was learned that the investigation was initiated upon a complaint made to the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER).
