Turkish Court Maintains Detention of Journalist Amid Ongoing Trial

A court in Istanbul has extended the pretrial detention of journalist Nadiye Gürbüz, who has been held for over seven months on charges related to alleged membership in a designated terrorist organization. The decision was made during the first hearing of her trial, with the judge citing pending witness testimonies as the primary justification for keeping her in custody despite her defense arguments.

According to the Media and Law Studies Association, the 25th High Criminal Court adjourned the proceedings until December 8. This development underscores the tension between national security frameworks and professional journalistic activities, as prosecutors rely on reporting work and personal communications as evidence of criminal affiliation.

Charges Based on Professional Activities

Gürbüz faces potential imprisonment for up to twenty-two and a half years under statutes targeting the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party. The indictment highlights her employment at the Etkin News Agency, specifically citing an interview and coverage of public events. Prosecutors also presented telephone contacts and financial transactions as indicators of illicit association, a characterization that her legal team disputes.

During the hearing, Gürbüz maintained that the cited activities were standard journalistic duties. She explained that her phone contacts were with news sources and that the financial records represented ordinary personal expenses such as rent and legal fees. Her attorney, Meral Hanbayat, further noted that Gürbüz had previously been acquitted of similar charges in a prior proceeding, a verdict that was upheld on appeal.

Judicial Reasoning and Evidence

The court’s decision to maintain detention was largely driven by the prosecutor’s argument that key witnesses had not yet testified. A secret witness heard by the court stated that he did not personally know the journalist and recognized her only through her public work for the news agency. Despite this, the judge prioritized the potential for further evidence to emerge from these unexamined sources.

This case is part of a broader pattern of detentions targeting left-wing media figures. Two colleagues, Pınar Gayıp and Elif Bayburt, were arrested in the same operation. While Gayıp was released pending trial on Monday after seven months, Bayburt’s hearing is scheduled for September 29. The inconsistent outcomes raise questions about the consistency of judicial standards applied to similar cases.

Broader Implications for Press Freedom

Monitoring groups indicate that the situation for journalists in Turkey continues to deteriorate. According to Expression Interrupted, twenty-four journalists are currently detained in the country. This aligns with recent rankings from Reporters Without Borders, which placed Turkey at 163rd out of 180 nations in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index. These metrics suggest a significant gap between international norms and domestic legal practices.

As the trial proceeds, observers will watch whether the court admits evidence strictly related to journalistic work or if it continues to rely on pending testimonies. The outcome of this case may set a precedent for how media professionals are treated under counter-terrorism laws, influencing the operational space for independent news outlets in the region.