Cases
Cases
FILTERS
FIGHTING IMPUNITY
Journalists, who exercise one of their fundamental rights in terms of informing the public, seek their rights before the law against all kinds of obstacles, attacks, and unlawful interventions that may hinder their duties. The success or failure of the authorities to punish those who target a reporter shows not only the extent to which journalists' "crimes" are prosecuted but also the value that the country places on the right to inform the public. Unfortunately, Turkey gives the appearance of a country where impunity is rooted, especially in the murders of journalists and in violence against a reporter.
General
İstanbul - 2022
The failure to permit an investigation against police officers who intervened against journalists – Gezi Commemoration
On May 31, the anniversary of the Gezi Resistance, nine journalists on news follow-up were battered and six journalists were detained in rear handcuffs. The Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS)…
Zülal Kalkandelen
İstanbul - 2020
Acquittal in the trial over the threat of rape against Cumhuriyet columnist Zülal Kalkandelen
With its ruling dated July 21, 2022, the İstanbul 13th Criminal Court of First Instance ruled that İ.B., who had threatened Cumhuriyet columnist Zülal Kalkandelen with rape following her articles…
Yavuz Selim Demirağ
Ankara - 2021
Court case over the attack on Yavuz Selim Demirağ
A lawsuit has been filed over the attack on Yeni Çağ newspaper’s columnist Yavuz Selim Demirağ in the capital city of Ankara on the night of May 10, 2019 two…
Levent Gültekin
İstanbul - 2021
Assaulters of Levent Gültekin released
In the trial over the attack on journalist Levent Gültekin by a group of people in front of the Halk TV studio in İstanbul’s Bakırköy district in the evening of…
Beyza Kural
İstanbul - 2021
The absence of defendants in courtroom in the trial over violence against Beyza Kural
The İstanbul 35th Criminal Court of First Instance continued hearing the trial of the three police officers who inflicted violence on former bianet reporter Beyza Kural, telling her “Nothing is…
Mehmet Altan
İstanbul - 2021
“Unfair arrest” lawsuit by Mehmet Altan
Arrested shortly after the coup attempt on June 15, 2016 and imprisoned for 656 days until June 2018 despite the ruling of right violation given by the Constitutional Court, journalist…
Özgür Ülke
2021
Impunity for the attack on Özgür Ülke
Impunity for the attack on Özgür Ülke newspaper for 26 years: Having lost his life in the bombing of Özgür Ülke newspaper on December 3, 1995, transportation worker Ersin Yıldız…
Ahmet Şık
İstanbul - 2021
Case of “conspiracy” against Ahmet Şık
The trial over “conspiracy against Şık” has begun: On the grounds that they arrested investigative journalist Ahmet Şık over his draft book “İmamın Ordusu” (Imam’s Army) with a conspiracy in…
Bülent Kılıç
İstanbul - 2021
Lawsuit for damages due to violence against and detention of Bülent Kılıç
The Law Unit of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) filed a lawsuit for damages on behalf of AFP photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, who was subjected to police violence while…
Nadire Mater
İstanbul - 2021
Cancellation of Nadire Mater’s press card “without notice”
The Presidency’s Communications Directorate made defense in the court case filed by IPS Communication Foundation Chair and bianet Project Coordinator Nadire Mater, whose permanent press card had not been renewed…
Yaşar Parlak
2021
Impunity for Yaşar Parlak murder for 17 years
It has been 17 years since Yaşar Parlak, the founder of the Silvan Mücadele newspaper, was killed in an armed attack in the yard of the Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque in…
Ceylan Bulut
İstanbul - 2021
Criminal complaint about violence in Kasımpaşa – Ceylan Bulut
A criminal complaint was filed about a racist group’s attack in İstanbul’s Kasımpaşa after a protest demonstration about the killing of a family in Konya. Journalists who were attacked, including…
Muhammed Enes Sezgin
İstanbul - 2021
Criminal complaint about violence in Kasımpaşa – Muhammed Enes Sezgin
A criminal complaint was filed about a racist group’s attack in İstanbul’s Kasımpaşa after a protest demonstration about the killing of a family in Konya. Journalists who were attacked, including…
Umut Yeğin
Gaziantep - 2021
Fine over threat againt Umut Yeğin
Standing trial at the Gaziantep 10th Penal Court of First Instance on the grounds that he hurled insults and threats against Evrensel newspaper’s reporter Umut Yeğin, who reported on the…
Yağız Şenkal
İstanbul - 2021
Prison sentence without imprisonment for attack against Yağız Şenkal
In the retrial upon the appeal of NTV reporter Yağız Şenkal, who was shot in his leg in an armed attack launched against journalist Can Dündar in front of the…
Ekrem Biçeroğlu
İstanbul - 2021
The ones who battered Ekrem Biçeroğlu released
Having attacked Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter Ekrem Biçeroğlu and broken his chin in a row following a traffic accident, Doğukan S. and Ufuk A. were referred to the court with…
Nevşehir Gazeteciler Cemiyeti
Nevşehir - 2021
Trial over the attack on Nevşehir Journalists Association
Two defendants who launched an attack with molotov cocktails at the Nevşehir Journalists Association on August 25, 2020 are standing trial at the Nevşehir 1st Criminal Court of First Instance.…
Uğur Mumcu
Ankara - 1993
Uğur Mumcu murder case
In the trial held at the Ankara 5th High Criminal Court in the absence of Oğuz Demir, the defendant indicated to be the person who caused the death of journalist…
Mahmut Bozarslan
2021
Impunity for violence against 10 journalists – Mahmut Bozarslan
As of June 2021, no criminal action has been taken about the security forces’ and a group’s attack on over 10 journalists, including Mahmut Bozarslan, while they were trying to…
Ahmet Hakan
İstanbul - 2021
“Light” sentence for attack on Ahmet Hakan
Defendants penalized for attacking Ahmet Hakan: The İstanbul 39th Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced five defendants (Yahya Kemal Gezen, Uğur Adıyaman, Kamuran Ergin, Fuat Elmas, Ahmet Şengüler) to 2…
Cumhuriyet Newspaper
İstanbul - 2021
Life sentence for bombing Cumhuriyet Newspaper
In the trial over the “Council of State” attack and the hand grenade attack on the central office of Cumhuriyet Newspaper in İstanbul, the İstanbul 4th High Criminal Court sentenced…
Speak Up Platform
İstanbul - 2021
Rejection of Speak Up Platform’s objection to censorship
The İstanbul 12th Criminal Judgeship of Peace rejected the appeal against the İstanbul 11th Criminal Judgeship of Peace’s access block to 168 links of news regarding the access block imposed…
Deniz Yücel
İstanbul - 2021
Deniz Yücel’s claim for damages dismissed
The İstanbul 17th High Criminal Court dismissed the lawsuit for damages filed by journalist Deniz Yücel, who was detained and arrested while he was working as the İstanbul correspondent of…
Hakan Denizli
Adana - 2021
Release of the ones who attacked Hakan Denizli
In the trial of seven people, four arrested, over the armed attack on journalist Hakan Denizli while he was about to get in his car with his daughter and grandchild…
Haydar Meriç
Düzce - 2021
Release for “illegal eavesdropping” – Haydar Meriç
The Kırklareli 2nd High Criminal Court ruled for the release of police officer Abdül Köksal, who was expelled from profession and was put on trial for illegal eavesdropping of 70…
Çetin Emeç
İstanbul - 2021
Murder of Çetin Emeç
Having lost his life in an armed attack in front of his house in Suadiye, İstanbul on March 7, 1990, journalist Çetin Emeç was commemorated at his grave in Zincirlikuyu…
Yavuz Selim Demirağ
İstanbul - 2021
Attack on Yavuz Selim Demirağ not turning into a court case
Impunity for attacks on journalists: In May 2019, when the effects of the March 31 local elections were still ongoing, the perpetrators of the attacks on Yeniçağ newspaper columnist Yavuz…
Barış Pehlivan
İstanbul - 2021
Impunity for violence against Barış Pehlivan
The camera footage regarding the intervention of an official against journalist Barış Pehlivan, who was sent to Silivri Prison in early March, showed the violence he had been subjected to.…
Nevşin Mengü
İstanbul - 2021
Nevşin Mengü’s criminal complaint about ‘lynch’
Journalist Nevşin Mengü applied to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and filed a criminal complaint on the grounds that she was subjected to two social media accounts’ aggressive and…
Uğur Mumcu
Ankara - 2021
Justice not served in Umut Case – Uğur Mumcu
In the Umut (Hope) Case, which also covers the killing of journalists Uğur Mumcu and Ahmet Taner Kışlalı in the 90s, the Ankara 11th High Criminal Court is still trying…
Ahmet Taner Kışlalı
Ankara - 2021
Justice not served in Umut Case – Ahmet Taner Kışlalı
In the Umut (Hope) Case, which also covers the killing of journalists Uğur Mumcu and Ahmet Taner Kışlalı in the 90s, the Ankara 11th High Criminal Court is still trying…
Tele 1
İstanbul - 2021
Legal action against RTÜK’s blackout of Halk TV and Tele 1
İlhan Taşçı and Okan Konuralp, the members of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), appealed to the Administrative Court against the RTÜK’s five-day…
Halk TV
İstanbul - 2021
Legal action against RTÜK’s blackout of Halk TV and Tele 1
İlhan Taşçı and Okan Konuralp, the members of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), appealed to the Administrative Court against the RTÜK’s five-day…
Rawin Sterk
2021
Appeal lodged against Rawin Sterk’s arrest
Taken into custody for allegedly “violating the military zone” while covering the situation of refugees at the border and arrested in early May on charges of “being a member of…
Murat Güreş
Gaziantep - 2021
Murat Güreş’s appeal against “access block”
Journalist Murat Güreş, the owner of the Gaziantep-based yurthaberleri.net news website, took legal action against the access block imposed by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on the news regarding the…
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul - 2021
Release of defendants in the trial over threats against Hrant Dink Foundation
Put on trial at the İstanbul 56th Criminal Court of First Instance, Hüseyin Ateş and Ersin Başkan, who threatened the Hrant Dink Foundation with the emails that they sent in…
Fırat Topal
Diyarbakır - 2021
Legal action taken about online threat against Fırat Topal
A legal action has been taken about the threat against Fırat Topal, the Diyarbakır reporter of daily Evrensel, who received a message of “Şewbaş hewal death will find you Jitem”…
İdris Yılmaz
Van - 2021
Decision of non-prosecution for the attack on İdris Yılmaz
Non-prosecution for the investigation launched by Yılmaz and Akbaş: Journalists İdris Yılmaz and Erhan Akbaş filed a criminal complaint at the Erciş Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office over the incident where…
Erhan Akbaş
Van - 2021
Decision of non-prosecution for the attack on Erhan Akbaş
Non-prosecution for the investigation launched by Yılmaz and Akbaş: Journalists İdris Yılmaz and Erhan Akbaş filed a criminal complaint at the Erciş Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office over the incident where…
Fatin Dağıstanlı
İstanbul - 2021
“Provocation” case against Fatin Dağıstanlı
“Provocation” case against Dağıstanlı from Akit: During the “Manşetlerin Dili” (The Language of Headlines) program on Akit TV, presenter Fatin Dağıstanlı targeted Cumhuriyet newspaper columnist Işık Kansu and Cumhuriyet over…
Levent Gültekin
İstanbul - 2021
Impunity for attack on Levent Gültekin
Only two of the three detained suspects were arrested in the investigation into the attack on journalist Levent Gültekin by a group of people in Bakırköy Cevizlik Neighborhood, where he…
Emrullah Özbey
Muş - 2021
Only a deferred fine for threat against Emrullah Özbey
On the grounds that he threatened and insulted Haber 49 newspaper’s owner Emrullah Özbey over his article titled “Not Favoritism, But Muş Should Win” (Adamcılık Değil, Muş Kazanmalı), the Muş…
Emrullah Özbey
Muş - 2021
Trial over the threat against journalist Emrullah Özbey
Erkan Asya, a relative of the Mayor put on trial for allegedly insulting and threatening Emrullah Özbey, the owner of the Muş Haber 49 newspaper, due to his news report…
Journalists' Union of Turkey
Ankara - 2021
Criminal complaint about police violence by Journalists’ Union of Turkey
The Ankara Branch of the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) applied to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and filed a criminal complaint about “the increasing police intervention against journalists” during…
Cüneyt Akman
Yalova - 2021
Appeal against non-prosecution for targeting remarks about journalists – Cüneyt Akman
The Anadolu Public Prosecutor’s Office concluded that there was no ground for filing a court case against Yalova University Islamic Sciences Faculty member Ebubekir Sifil, who had targeted Sözcü newspaper…
Yılmaz Özdil
Yalova - 2021
Appeal against non-prosecution for targeting remarks about journalists – Yılmaz Özdil
The Anadolu Public Prosecutor’s Office concluded that there was no ground for filing a court case against Yalova University Islamic Sciences Faculty member Ebubekir Sifil, who had targeted Sözcü newspaper…
Murat Güreş
Gaziantep - 2021
Dismissal of Murat Güreş’s claim for damages – trial for “violating the confidentiality of the investigation”
Arrested for 14 days in 2017 for “violating the confidentiality of the investigation” because he “published the statement of a Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) suspect”, journalist Murat Güreş applied to…
Barış Pehlivan
İstanbul - 2021
“Warning” for violence against Barış Pehlivan
Despite the Justice Ministry inspectors’ recommendation that a reprimand should be given to prison official Muhammed B. for battering Odatv news website’s editor-in-chief Barış Pehlivan while he was entering the…
Ahmet Takan
Ankara - 2021
Sentence at the lowest limit for the attack on Ahmet Takan
In the trial over the attack on Korkusuz columnist Ahmet Takan in front of his house in Ankara in November 2019, defendant Emre Aydemir, who battered the journalist with a…
Can Dündar
İstanbul - 2021
Impunity for the attack on Can Dündar
The court of appeals overturned the ruling in the trial over the attempted armed attack on former Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Can Dündar on May 6, 2016. Assaulter Murat Şahin was previously…
