09 December 2025
Journalist Kemal Taylan Abatan is facing trial under Article 220/6 of the Turkish Penal Code for “aiding a terrorist organisation” over freelance reporting published in Germany-based media outlets Yeni Özgür Politika and PolitikArt. At the first hearing at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court, Abatan stated that he supported himself through freelance journalism and denied any criminal intent. He demanded acquittal. The court lifted judicial control measures, referred the file to the prosecutor, and postponed the hearing to 17 February 2026. Journalists Erdoğan Alayumat, Tuğçe Yılmaz, Suzan Demir and Gülcan Dereli are also on trial in the same case.
