MLSA Trial Monitoring - Key developments in press and freedom of expression cases were observed across different provinces this week, continuing the trend of pressures on journalists in Turkey.
In Van, three journalists were detained, and two in Istanbul. Journalist Diren Keser was arrested, while Dicle Müftüoğlu and İbrahim Karakaş were released in their ongoing cases. Four separate cases, including that of journalist Sedat Yılmaz, resulted in acquittals. Journalist Erdem Gül received a sentencerdem Gül received a sentence in the MIT trucks case.
The MLSA Case Monitoring Unit tracked a total of 16 cases in Istanbul, Aydın, Elazığ, Eskişehir, and Diyarbakır this week. For details, please visit the Trial Monitoring tab our main website.
February 26, Monday
Journalist Neşe İdil's reasoned decision was announced in her trial for "organization propaganda." The decision noted that İdil did not argue in court that the YPG/YPJ was not recognized as an organization at the time of her posts.
February 27, Tuesday
A confidentiality order was issued in the file of journalists detained in Van. Arif Aslan, Oktay Candemir, and Lokman Gezgin were taken into custody following raids on their homes.
The situation in Russia and Turkey has forced many journalists to leave their countries. A reportby Justice for Journalists Foundation (created with MLSA and partner JAM) focused on exile journalism and the dark path these two countries have taken over the last twenty years.
Journalist Nadiye Gürbüz was acquitted in her trial for "organization membership" and "organization propaganda." Her lawyer argued that the prosecution's assumption of membership was baseless, and the court found no legal elements for both charges.
ETHA news agency editor Mehmet Acettin and Ceylan Publications employee Hüseyin Gültepe were detained in police raids in Istanbul.
Eren Keskin and Raci Bilici were tried under Article 301 for calling the Armenian Massacre a "genocide." During the trial at Istanbul 51st Criminal Court of First Instance, Keskin said, "I do not accept this official ideology that denies other identities."
"We have been seeking justice in Galatasaray Square for 29 years," reminded the Saturday Mothers/People in their 950th-week gathering, citing Constitutional Court decisions on rights violations.
PIRHA reporter Diren Keser was arrested. Keser, who faced imprisonment for his reports and social media posts, was detained at home and taken to Tarsus Prison.
The court, complying with the Constitutional Court's decision, acquitted journalist Özgür Boğatekin. Following the violation of rights ruling, journalist Boğatekin was retried.
MIT trucks case: Erdem Gül sentenced to 5 years in prison. Following the Court of Cassation's reversal, former Cumhuriyet Ankara representative Erdem Gü was sentenced by Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court for "aiding an organization."
Journalist Deniz Yücel's arrest warrant was not lifted. The request for Yücel's defense to be taken in Germany was denied by Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
February 29, Thursday
International organizations called for Dicle Müftüoğlu's release. Ahead of Müftüoğlu's trial, 17 freedom of expression and human rights organizations demanded the end of her unjust detention. The organizations stressed that the charges against Müftüoğlu stem from her journalistic activities and called for her release since her detention in April 2023.
Journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu was released after 306 days in detention. The third hearing of the case against DFG Co-Chair and MA editor Müftüoğlu was held at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court, observed by many from different institutions.
Sedat Yılmaz was acquitted after 230 days in detention for journalism-related charges. Mezopotamya Agency editor Yılmaz, who was released in the first hearing, was acquitted in the second hearing, and his travel ban was lifted.
The house arrest of journalists detained in Izmir for four days was not lifted. The judges imposed a bi-weekly police station check-in for Semra Turan and Cihan Başakçıoğlu, while Delal Akyüz, Tolga Güney, Melike Aydın, and Fatma Funda Akbulut were subjected to house arrest with electronic monitoring. Appeals by lawyers, supported by the MLSA Legal Unit, were rejected.
Lawyer Emin Aktar: I didn't target the prosecutor, I exposed illegality. Former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Aktar was tried Aktar was tried at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court for allegedly targeting the prosecutor who prepared the indictment against 18 journalists.
Journalist İbrahim Karakaş retried and sentenced to 6 years and 10 months, but released. Following the Court of Cassation's reversal, Yeni Yaşam newspaper employee Karakaş was retried and sentenced for "being a member of an organization" but was released with the decision.
Journalist Furkan Karabay faced charges for "serial insult and defamation." Journalist Karabay was tried at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, following a complaint by President Erdoğan's former lawyer Mustafa Doğan İnal.
March 1, Friday
Legal action against those holding a "Democracy Vigil" in front of the Supreme Electoral Council. Six months to three years in prison is sought for ten people who held a "Democracy Vigil" in front of the YSK in May 2023, protesting discrepancies between wet-signed minutes and YSK's data.
"Metastasis 2: Cendere" case expands: Fatih Portakal and Can Özçelik added to the file. Journalists Barış Terkoğlu, Barış Pehlivan, Can Bursalı, Nevzat Çiçek, Doğan Akın, and Gökmen Karadağ were tried for "public insult" and "defamation" at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, following a complaint by President Erdoğan's former lawyer. The cases against Can Özçelik and Fatih Portakal were merged with this case.
A second acquittal in the May Day case. Following the reversal of the acquittal of 18 people detained during the 2021 May Day celebrations, the retrial also resulted in acquittal.
Detained journalists in Van were released. Journalists Arif Aslan, Oktay Candemir, and Lokman Gezgin, held in custody for three days, were accused based on their article royalties and payments.
