Semra Çelebi, the Managing Editor of Gazete Kadıköy local newspaper based in İstanbul, was put on trial due to a social media post from two years ago on charge of “insulting the Turkish flag.”

Sharing a picture with a rainbow flag from the 2014 Pride Week, Çelebi wrote, “Say, what makes flag a flag is fags”, which led her to face a criminal complaint by AKP İstanbıl Provincial Executive Board Member Aydoğan Ahıakın. Launching an investigation, the İstanbul Anadolu Prosecutor’s Office had given a decision of non-prosecution on the grounds that there was not enough suspicion suggesting that the Turkish flag was intentionally insulted in the picture published along with the article. Reviewing the file, the İstanbul Anadolu Criminal Judgeship of Peace removed the decision of non-prosecution as “there was strong suspicion that the offense charged was committed” and ruled that a lawsuit should be filed against Çelebi (August 16).

In the indictment lodged by the İstanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Press Crimes Investigation Bureau, Gazete Kadıköy Managing Editor Semra Çelebi faced a request for trial on charge of “publicly degrading the signs of sovereignty of the state”. The first hearing of the trial will be held at the İstanbul Anadolu 10th Criminal Court of First Instance on February 2, 2023 at 11.55 am (December 16).

The hearing scheduled for February 2, 2023 could not be held as the judge was on leave. The trial was adjourned until a further date (February 2).