30 January 2025
Suat Toktaş, editor-in-chief of Halk TV, was arrested on charges of “recording without authorization” a phone conversation between journalist Barış Pehlivan and a court expert, which came to public attention during a press conference held by İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and of “disclosing the name of the expert in a way that could make them a target and making statements aimed at influencing the course of the trial.” Toktaş was sent to Silivri (Marmara) Prison after the court ruling.
In the same case, Halk TV staff members Barış Pehlivan, Serhan Asker, Seda Selek, and Kürşad Oğuz were released under judicial control.
The detainees were charged under the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) with Listening and Recording of Conversations Between Individuals (Articles 132–133) and Attempting to Influence an Expert Witness (Article 277).
4 March 2025
The Istanbul 54th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted five journalists who had been prosecuted over the broadcast on Halk TV of a meeting with a court-appointed expert whose name had been disclosed by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Journalist Barış Pehlivan, program host Seda Selek, responsible manager Serhan Asker, Programs Director Kürşat Oğuz, and Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş — who had been detained for 34 days — were facing charges of “listening to and recording conversations between individuals” (Turkish Penal Code Articles 132–133) and “attempting to influence an expert” (Article 277).
Regarding the accusation of “listening to and recording public conversations between individuals,” the court ruled that the mandatory reconciliation procedure had not been carried out and referred the case to the conciliation bureau.
At the hearing, the court ordered the release of Toktaş, maintained the international travel ban for all defendants, but lifted the judicial control measure requiring the non-detained defendants to sign in once a week. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that it would appeal the rulings issued at the first hearing.
