As part of an investigation launched on 26 November 2024, by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, journalists Gülcan Dereli, Kemal Taylan, Erdoğan Alayumat, Berfin Atlı, Serap Güneş, Suzan Demir, and Tuğçe Yılmaz (who all spent time in custody), were indicted on charges of “aiding a terrorist organization.” The case file, which was transferred due to lack of jurisdiction in Eskişehir, was sent to the Istanbul High Criminal Court.
Payments received by the journalists for their articles in Yeni Özgür Politika newspaper and PolitikArt magazine were characterized as “aiding a terrorist organization.” Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of up to 10 years. The indictment was accepted by the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court, with the first hearing set for 9 December 2025.
Journalists accused of “making propaganda for an illegal organization”
The indictment, which included a MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) report and social media accounts, said “that they were part of the Press Committee structure within the ideological center of the PKK/KCK Executive Council, that they carried out acts and activities on behalf of the terrorist organization under the guise of so-called journalistic activity, that they wrote for Yeni Özgür Politika and PolitikArt, which publish under the influence of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization, and that they engaged in terrorist propaganda…”
The indictment prepared against the seven journalists, who were detained for four days after the Eskişehir-based operation, characterized payments for their reporting work and the sharing of their news stories as crimes.
Number of social media followers included in the indictment
In the indictment, which labeled Yeni Özgür Politika and PolitikArt as “organization publications,” journalist Erdoğan Alayumat’s social media posts about a DEM Party rally he attended for reporting purposes, as well as about a DBP and TJA demonstration, were presented as criminal evidence.
The indictment also included journalist Gülcan Dereli’s news shares. As evidence, it cited her coverage of a trustee appointed to Xelfeti district municipality in Riha (Urfa). What stood out, however, was the inclusion of her follower count and the number of accounts she followed on the social media platform X, presented as if it were a criminal element.
The indictment said: “On the homepage of the X account with the name/alias Gülcan Dereli – @Gulcandereli1, it was observed that she joined in March 2014. The information reads: Following 889 – Followers 2,621.”