13 February 2025

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a case against Gazete Duvar reporter Furkan Karabay on charges of “insulting public officials” (Article 125/3 of the Turkish Penal Code) and “publicly disseminating misleading information” (Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code). The indictment accuses Karabay of his news posts concerning the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer and the appointment of a trustee to replace him.

According to the indictment, Karabay’s post stating that “during the police raid on Esenyurt Municipality, doors were broken, security guards’ phones were seized, and lawyers were denied entry” was untrue. The prosecution argued that the municipal building and Özer’s office were opened by a locksmith in the presence of security guards and cited CCTV footage along with a written statement signed by the neighborhood headman accompanying the raid, declaring that “no damage was caused.”

The prosecution further alleged that Karabay:

likened Akın Gürlek to a “former prosecutor known to the public as a member of a terrorist organization who fled abroad,”

defamed Akın Gürlek and Şaban Yılmaz by insinuating bribery,

explicitly named Akın Gürlek and Can Tuncay in a way that allegedly exposed them to targeting by the PKK,

engaged in disinformation.

Karabay will appear before the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court on 27 May 2025, facing 3 to 8 years in prison.

27 May 2025

At the first hearing held at the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court, detained journalist Furkan Karabay presented his defense. The prosecutor requested Karabay’s conviction on charges of “insulting a public official,” “publicly disseminating misleading information,” and “targeting those involved in counterterrorism.” The court granted time for Karabay and his lawyer to prepare their final defense and adjourned the hearing to 2 October.

2 October 2025

The Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court announced its verdict in the trial of journalist Furkan Karabay. The court acquitted Karabay of the charges of “targeting public officials who took part in counter-terrorism efforts,” “publicly disseminating misleading information,” and “insulting a public official.” For the charge of “insulting” Akın Gürlek, the court imposed a judicial fine of 42,500 TL and deferred the announcement of the verdict.