Journalist Barış Pehlivan Faces 9-Year Prison Demand Over Report on AKP-Linked Prosecutor

Prominent journalist Barış Pehlivan is facing a possible nine-year prison sentence after reporting on a prosecutor’s controversial past ties to AKP and a FETÖ-linked association, according to a column by Barış Terkoğlu published in Cumhuriyet.

The charges stem from a complaint by H.Ç., a current prosecutor at Kilis Courthouse and former AKP Şehitkamil District Chair, who accused Pehlivan of illegally obtaining and disclosing personal data.

Background: Shooting Incident, FETÖ Membership Allegations

Pehlivan’s article, dated October 7, 2022, detailed several aspects of H.Ç.’s controversial past, including:

• Shooting a man during a traffic dispute while serving as AKP district chair.

• Membership in Müdafaa Demokrasi ve Hukuk Derneği, an association later shut down for FETÖ ties.

• Partisan social media activity supporting the government and attacking the opposition.

In his report, Pehlivan also contacted H.Ç. directly, recording the prosecutor’s own admissions regarding these incidents.

Prosecutor’s Complaint: Focus on Personal Data

Despite the accuracy of Pehlivan’s reporting, the prosecutor lodged a complaint 18 days later, alleging that:

• Pehlivan illegally accessed his GSM number.

• Pehlivan published private information including association membership and criminal record.

The indictment acknowledges that the facts reported were correct, yet frames Pehlivan’s journalism as a personal data violation, exploiting his profession to gain information.

Concerns Over Judicial Impartiality

The situation has raised serious concerns about judicial impartiality:

• The indictment was prepared not by an independent authority but by a colleague of H.Ç. at Kilis Courthouse.

• The judge and prosecutor handling the trial are reportedly close associates of H.Ç.

• The trial began on April 11 at the Kilis 1st Criminal Court of First Instance and was adjourned to next Wednesday after Pehlivan’s lawyers requested additional time.

“This is a wolf pack trial where justice is unlikely to prevail,” Terkoğlu wrote.

Broader Implications: Journalism Under Pressure

The case highlights the growing pressures on investigative journalism in Türkiye, where reporting on powerful figures increasingly risks criminal prosecution.

Critics argue that the use of personal data laws to target journalists reporting on public interest issues—especially links between judiciary members and controversial organizations—threatens press freedom and public accountability.

As the trial continues, it remains to be seen whether Türkiye’s judiciary will uphold the right to report or further entrench the criminalization of journalism.