Breaking News: Release order for Esra Işık

Esra Işık, who was being tried on charges of "resisting an officer to prevent them from performing their duty" and "insult" following protests against urgent expropriation decisions in the area surrounding the Akbelen Forest in the Milas district of Muğla, has been ordered to be released.

The Milas 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance, in its evaluation of the case file during a detention review, decided to release Işık under judicial control measures, taking into account the current state of evidence, the nature of the charges, and the stage the trial has reached.

The court also imposed an international travel ban on Esra Işık.

WHAT HAPPENED?

An urgent expropriation decision was issued via a Presidential Decree dated January 10, 2026, for a total of 679 agricultural land parcels in the neighborhoods of Bağdamları, Çakıralan, Çamköy, İkizköy, Karacaağaç, and Karacahisar, located around the Akbelen Forest, in order to supply coal to the Yeniköy Thermal Power Plant.

Following the decision, the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs (MAPEG) filed a lawsuit at the Milas 2nd Civil Court of First Instance regarding the valuation and seizure of the parcels in question. While the case was ongoing, an expert site inspection was conducted on the lands under expropriation on March 30.

Esra Işık, a resident of İkizköy who protested the inspection activities, was detained late that same night and was arrested by the court to which she was referred on March 31.

News Source: 12punto