11 July 2025
Journalist Furkan Karabay was fined 10,500 Turkish lira in a trial over three social media posts he made in 2023, on charges of “insulting the President.” At the fifth hearing held at the Istanbul 74th Criminal Court of First Instance, the court convicted Karabay under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Karabay has been in pre-trial detention since 15 May in a separate case. The posts in question included criticism made on social media following the 6 February earthquakes. His lawyers argued that the posts fell within the scope of journalism, did not directly target the President with insults, and should be considered within the framework of freedom of expression, requesting his acquittal. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s lawyer maintained that the posts exceeded the limits of criticism and amounted to insult.
The indictment, dated 24 January 2024, cited three posts dated 28 May, 8 February, and 19 May 2023 as the basis for the charges. The posts contained criticism of the government, the ruling party, and President Erdoğan. (11 July)