Cambodian Journalist’s Killer Sentenced in Rare Justice Ruling
June 9, 2025
Journalist Elif Akgül was freed after 101 days in pre-trial detention over the HDK investigation in Turkey.
Journalist Elif Akgül has been released after spending 101 days in pre-trial detention at Istanbul’s Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison. She was detained on February 18, 2025, as part of a wider investigation into the People’s Democratic Congress (HDK) and formally arrested three days later. Turkish authorities accused those connected to the HDK of ties to Kurdish political movements, allegations that have often been used to target activists, politicians, and journalists. Her release on June 2 followed an appeal filed by her lawyers through the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA). Without convening a hearing, the court ordered her release, and she walked out of prison in the afternoon, greeted by colleagues and supporters holding flowers.
Speaking defiantly after her release, Akgül declared, “We are not afraid, we are not silent, we do not obey,” signaling her intention to continue resisting pressures on the press. Her case has drawn international attention, as Turkey has repeatedly come under criticism for the extended use of pre-trial detention against journalists. Rights advocates argue that such measures are increasingly deployed to silence dissenting voices and intimidate the media.
Although Akgül is now free, the broader crackdown continues. Other journalists, including Ercüment Akdeniz, remain in prison under the same HDK investigation. Press freedom groups stress that her release does not undo the chilling effect of months of imprisonment, nor does it address the structural abuses that allow for arbitrary arrests. Akgül’s case highlights ongoing struggles for media freedom in Turkey, where journalism remains heavily criminalized.
To read the full story: https://tjcproject.org/elif-akgul-released-after-101-days-in-turkish-prison/