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The regime’s attacks targeting the public’s right to receive information and the attempts to silence journalists with the judicial baton put press labourers in the crosshairs by criminalising journalism.
Journalism—targeted by the pro-ruling power media and used by the judiciary as a tool for silencing—is before the judge this week as well. Throughout the week, numerous lawsuits filed against journalists will be heard in different cities.
In two separate hearings to be held today, journalists are appearing before the judge on the grounds of their reporting. The 19th hearing of the case in which journalist Sonya Bayık is being tried on the grounds that she followed a press statement in Hasankeyf will be held in Batman, and the fifth hearing of the case in which journalist Vedat Örüç is being tried will be held in Mersin.
The seventh hearing of the case filed against journalists Esra Solin Dal, Mehmet Aslan, and Erdoğan Alayumat with the accusation of ‘membership in an organisation’ on the grounds of their reporting will be held in Istanbul.
On Thursday, 11 June 2026, two journalists will be tried in two separate cases. The seventh hearing of the case filed against journalist and author Mehmet Şahin with the accusation of “being a member of an organisation” will be held in Diyarbakır.
Nefes reporter Nisanur Yıldırım will also appear before the judge in Bakırköy for the third hearing of the case filed upon the complaint of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, due to her report titled “A 150-million-dollar lottery hit the Minister’s company”. On Friday, 12 June 2026, the seventh hearing of the case filed against journalists Barış Pehlivan, Suat Toktaş, Kürşad Oğuz, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker on the grounds that they broadcasted the interview conducted with the expert Satılmış Büyükcanayakın, announced by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, will be held at the Istanbul 54th Criminal Court of First Instance.
DEMONSTRATION TO BE HELD FOR DETAINED JOURNALISTS
Tomorrow at 19:00, citizens will come together at the Istanbul Beyoğlu Tünel Square for the ETHA labourers who have been detained since 3 February. In the demonstration to be held with the slogan “Freedom for Elif, Pınar, Nadiye, and Müslüm”, the participation of press labourers, democratic mass organisations, political parties, and citizens is expected.
Ensonhaber and Akit, targeting the Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Sema Bingöl—who was released after being taken into custody in Ankara—and her family, served all the news reports followed by Bingöl as a “criminal record”.
Mesopotamia Agency reporter Sema Bingöl, who was released after being taken into custody during the Ethem Sarısülük commemoration held in Ankara on 1 June, was targeted. Fifteen demonstrations and events followed by Bingöl in the year 2026 were listed as a “criminal record”.
The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) reacted to the situation, announcing that they would file a criminal complaint regarding the matter. Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) also made a statement saying, “Presenting news tracking like a ‘criminal record’ is to target the public’s right to receive information as well.”
Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Suçlama konusu gazeteci olmak!, published in BirGün newspaper on June 9, 2026.
Kaynak: BirGün