8 February 2025
BirGün newspaper reporter Uğur Koç was detained on the evening of 8 February together with Publishing Coordinator Berkant Gültekin and Managing Editor Yaşar Gökdemir. The three journalists were taken into custody over the report titled “A visit from pro-government daily Sabah to Akın Gürlek in his office”, which stated: “Abdurrahman Şimşek, News Coordinator of Sabah newspaper, visited İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, who is referred to by the opposition as the ‘mobile guillotine’.”
They were accused under Article 6/1 of the Anti-Terror Law of “targeting a public official engaged in counter-terrorism”. After being questioned at İstanbul Police Headquarters, they were referred to İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse.
Following the prosecutor’s interrogation, Gültekin was released, while Koç and Gökdemir were released under judicial control, including a ban on leaving the country and an obligation to sign at the police station once a week. The detentions were protested in several cities including İstanbul, İzmir, Denizli and Ankara.
11 June 2025
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued an indictment against BirGün executives for publishing a report mentioning Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. Board Chair İbrahim Aydın, Publishing Coordinator Uğur Koç, and Responsible Managing Editor Yaşar Gökdemir are charged with “publicly insulting a public official” (Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code) and “targeting a person involved in counter-terrorism” (Articles 6/1-f and 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law). It was decided that no prosecution would be initiated against Publishing Coordinator Berkant Gültekin, who was detained on the same day.
The indictment claims the article contained “derogatory” expressions exceeding freedom of expression. The prosecution seeks prison sentences of two to five years. The first hearing will be held on 30 June at the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court.
30 June 2025
The Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court held the first hearing in the case against BirGün executives tried over a report mentioning Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. During the hearing, İbrahim Aydın, Uğur Koç, and Yaşar Gökdemir denied the accusations.
Koç stated, “The phrase ‘mobile guillotine’ belongs to CHP Chair Özgür Özel; we quoted it directly. There was no intent to insult or target anyone.” Aydın said, “The report was a follow-up to a piece already published by Sabah newspaper. There was no insult or targeting involved. We demand acquittal.” Gökdemir added, “I am not the author of the article. The report clearly falls within the scope of press and expression freedom. I request acquittal.”
Lawyers Ali Deniz Ceylan and Tolgay Güvercin criticized the targeting of BirGün, citing similar reports about Gürlek in pro-government media. The court adjourned the trial to 22 September for the preparation of the prosecutor’s final opinion.