19 March 2025
Journalist and Halk TV presenter İsmail Saymaz was detained on 19 March and questioned at the Istanbul Police Department. Police searched his home before taking him into custody. According to a statement by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Saymaz was accused of having phone conversations with rights defenders Osman Kavala and Can Atalay during the Gezi Park protests in connection with his reporting. Prosecutors charged him under Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code, accusing him of “aiding an attempt to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey.” A court later ordered his release under house arrest.
16 May 2025
Journalist İsmail Saymaz, who had been placed under house arrest on March 19 in connection with the Gezi investigation, was released from house arrest. The measure was replaced with judicial control requiring weekly reporting to the police and a travel ban.
