Turkish Court Acquits Four Journalists in Istanbul Protests Trial

Acquittal in High-Profile Case

An Istanbul court on Thursday, November 27, 2025, acquitted four journalists who had been on trial for their reporting on mass demonstrations that swept the city in March. The journalists, including Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Yasin Akgul, faced charges of violating laws governing demonstrations and public gatherings. The judge ruled that 'There is no solid basis that the defendants committed the alleged offence,' leading to their acquittal.

The other journalists acquitted were Ali Onur Tosun of Turkish broadcaster NOW Haber, and freelancers Bulent Kilic and Zeynep Kuray. None of the journalists were present in court for the verdict.

Background to the Protests and Arrests

The mass demonstrations in Istanbul in March 2025 were sparked by the arrest of Istanbul's influential opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. Imamoglu, a prominent opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained as part of a corruption probe, a move widely perceived as politically motivated.

The protests, which spread across Turkey, were described as the largest since the Gezi Park demonstrations in 2013.

The four photographers were arrested in dawn raids on March 24, 2025, several days into the protests. They were accused, along with thousands of other protesters, of 'taking part in illegal rallies and marches and failing to disperse despite warnings.' Prosecutors reportedly presented photographs where the journalists' press credentials were not visible as evidence to suggest they were participating as protesters.

Reactions from Media Organizations

The acquittal was met with relief and strong statements from international media and press freedom organizations:

• AFP Global News Director Phil Chetwynd stated, 'AFP welcomes the acquittal of Yasin Akgul and his colleagues. This case against photographers doing their job on the streets of Istanbul should never have been brought.' He emphasized that 'Journalists must be allowed to cover demonstrations and protests unhindered.'
• Media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also welcomed the decision, describing the case as 'unlawful.' RSF's Erol Onderoglu commented that 'The acquittal of the journalists was a relief, but it also showed their arrests were arbitrary,' suggesting the arrests were aimed at 'obstructing the public's right to access news.'

Turkey currently ranks 159th out of 180 countries in RSF's world press freedom rankings, highlighting ongoing concerns about media freedom in the country.