Court Orders Continued Detention of Journalist Cihan Berk in Turkey Amid Terrorism-Related Charges

April 15, 2026 – Turkey –

A Turkish court has ordered the continued detention of journalist Cihan Berk following his arrest on terrorism-related accusations, extending his pre-trial imprisonment as legal proceedings continue. The decision follows his initial detention during a police operation in which he was taken from his home, questioned by authorities, and later brought before a court for a custody review.

According to reporting by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) and other press freedom monitors, Berk was detained in an early morning raid, during which police reportedly searched his residence and seized electronic devices and personal materials as part of the investigation. He was subsequently taken to a police station for interrogation before being referred to the prosecutor’s office.

Prosecutors requested that Berk be arrested on suspicion of membership in a terrorist organisation, a charge frequently used in Turkey in cases involving journalists and media workers covering sensitive political or security-related topics. The court accepted the prosecution’s request and ruled for his pre-trial detention, meaning he will remain in custody while the case is examined further.

Berk, who is reported to have worked with a pro-Kurdish news outlet, denied the allegations during his court appearance. However, authorities have not publicly detailed the specific evidence underlying the charges, and it remains unclear what material is being used to support the accusation of organisational affiliation.

The case has been highlighted by press freedom organisations as part of a broader pattern of legal pressure on journalists in Turkey, where charges related to terrorism or propaganda are frequently cited in prosecutions involving media professionals. Rights groups argue that such cases raise concerns about the boundaries between national security enforcement and freedom of expression.

Berk’s continued detention means he will remain in custody pending the next stages of judicial review, where prosecutors are expected to formalise charges and the court will reassess the necessity of pre-trial imprisonment. The outcome of the case will depend on whether the court finds sufficient evidence to proceed to trial and whether continued detention is deemed legally justified under Turkish criminal procedure.

The case adds to ongoing international scrutiny of press freedom conditions in Turkey, where multiple journalists remain in detention or face ongoing trials on similar allegations linked to terrorism legislation and national security provisions.

Reference –

https://www.mlsaturkey.com/en/court-orders-continued-detention-of-journalist-cihan-berk