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May 15, 2025 – Turkey –
On May 15, 2025, Turkish journalist Furkan Karabay was arrested in Istanbul due to his investigative reporting on government probes into opposition mayors, including Istanbul’s Ekrem İmamoğlu. Karabay, known for his critical stance against the ruling government, has also faced legal repercussions for his outspoken commentary on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his family.
Karabay was detained after publishing reports related to the investigation of opposition mayors, which included the arrest of İmamoğlu in March. The charges against him include insulting the president and targeting public officials involved in counterterrorism operations. Karabay’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on journalists who cover sensitive political topics or criticize the government. Following his detention, he was transferred to Istanbul’s Courthouse, where prosecutors requested his arrest. An Istanbul judge later ordered his detention.
In addition to his recent arrest, Karabay was sentenced to a suspended two-year prison term for defamation in a separate case. The sentence stemmed from comments made during a January 2025 YouTube interview in which he referenced the “Man Adası” (Isle of Man) documents, which purportedly detailed offshore financial dealings involving Erdoğan’s family. The Istanbul 56th Criminal Court of First Instance found Karabay guilty of insulting the president and defaming Erdoğan’s family members, imposing a sentence of 11 months and 20 days for the former and 1 year, 1 month, and 10 days for the latter. However, the court deferred the sentence, meaning it will only be enforced if Karabay commits another offense during his probation period.
Furthermore, Karabay faces terrorism-related charges under Turkey’s Anti-Terrorism Law. The charges are linked to an article he published in 2023 about İrfan Fidan, the current Judge of the Constitutional Court, accusing him of abusing his prosecutorial powers. Karabay’s legal battles and arrest have raised concerns from international press freedom groups, which argue that these actions violate Turkey’s commitment to free expression and press freedom.
Reference –
Türkiye: Drop terrorism charges against journalist Furkan Karabay
Turkish journalist arrested due to reports on investigations into opposition mayors
