BILD's lynch-mob headline against journalist of Turkish descent taken to court

Işın ERTÜRK – STUTTGART - 12punto

Germany's highest-circulation newspaper, BILD, featured journalist of Turkish descent Adil Palta on the front page of its August 16, 2025, edition. The publication, which alleged that he hosted a television program in Turkey while receiving social welfare benefits, targeted Palta in the public eye and caused a profound upheaval in his personal life. Thus, the Turkish journalist was punished once again, not only before the judiciary but also in the court of public opinion through a newspaper headline.

LETTER FROM LAWYER ADEM DOĞAN TO BILD

Following the incident, Palta's lawyer, Adem Doğan, sent a letter from Stuttgart addressed to the BILD newspaper. In this text, which was also released to the public, Doğan stated that the information contained in the report was factually incorrect and misleading in many respects. Emphasizing that the figures regarding income, assets, and earnings had no basis, Doğan stated that his client admitted only to having made incorrect declarations, but that BILD had blown the matter out of proportion and turned it into a public execution.

Doğan demanded a retraction, correction, and apology from both BILD and the German and Turkish media outlets that repeated the story without questioning it. The full text of the statement sent by the Turkish lawyer to BILD, as well as other media organizations and journalists, is as follows:

“TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC

The report published in BILD newspaper regarding my client, Adil Palta, contains factually incorrect and misleading information in many respects and presents a false picture to the public. Such a publication does not align with the principles of accurate and diligent journalism. My client respects the freedom of the press, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. However, this freedom ends when an individual's personal rights are violated through factually incorrect allegations, misleading headlines, and one-sided presentations.

The truth is that my client admits to having made incorrect declarations. However, the report in Bild newspaper is untruthful, especially regarding income, assets, and earnings. These figures have no basis. My client also acknowledges that he is being prosecuted and clearly declares that he is ready to compensate for the damage caused.

This publication has severely damaged my client's personal and professional honor and has caused him deep psychological distress. This headline, which is destructive enough to ruin a person's life, has taken its place in media archives not as an example of press freedom, but as an example of social execution.

We regret to state that this manipulative report by Bild newspaper did not remain only on its own pages; it was repeated verbatim in the Turkish press by some newspapers, television channels, and through social media posts, without any research and forgetting the responsibilities of journalism. We condemn this approach, which serves to smear a person rather than inform the public.

Therefore, our demand is clear: We demand that both Bild newspaper and all channels that disseminated the report without questioning it correct the false and distorted information with the same level of visibility, fulfill their debt of a public apology, and publish a retraction. Otherwise, the necessary legal processes will be initiated for all material and moral damages suffered by my client.

Sincerely,

Adem Doğan - Lawyer for Adil Palta”

BILD REJECTED THE DEMANDS

BILD newspaper announced that it had rejected all the demands contained in the lawyer's letter. Upon this, Lawyer Doğan announced that they would initiate legal proceedings for material and moral damages and file a lawsuit.

The incident was not limited to a headline targeting Adil Palta. BILD's report was repeated in the German and Turkish press without being researched and without regard for journalistic principles. This situation has strengthened criticisms that the media in both Germany and Turkey has shifted toward a scandal-oriented, superficial, and irresponsible line.

JOURNALISTIC STYLE: EVEN A BOOK WAS WRITTEN ABOUT BILD

BILD's journalistic style is a subject of debate not just today, but for decades.

In the book “Ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste” (Regardless of the Losses) published in 2021, Mats Schönauer and Moritz Tschermak document how the newspaper divides society. Many examples are provided, from the targeting of Hartz-IV (social welfare) recipients to the fueling of hatred against immigrants and the contribution to the rise of the right-wing populist AfD. The authors highlight the devastating psychological effects BILD leaves on its victims.

HOW DANGEROUS IS BILD?

BILD's dangerous power was also criticized by one of Germany's Nobel Prize-winning writers, Heinrich Böll. Seeing the newspaper's one-sided publishing in the 1960s and 70s as a threat to democracy, Böll took a firm stance against the Springer group. The attacks and smear campaigns he faced inspired his novel “The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum.”

Meanwhile, Günter Wallraff's documentaries and his book “Aufmacher” (Headline News), which deals with the inner workings of the newspaper, also attracted great attention. New editions of the book were also released some time ago.

AXEL SPRINGER AND NEW CONTROVERSIES

BILD operates under the Axel Springer publishing house. It was revealed last July that a memo emphasizing loyalty to Israel had been sent to employees at the publishing house, which brought about new controversies that cast a shadow over press independence.

The Adil Palta case is not just the personal drama of a journalist of Turkish descent; it is also a burning test of the power and responsibility of the press in Europe. A process has begun that will result in the court either confirming or rejecting the thesis that this BILD headline ignored the most fundamental principle of press freedom: the principle of “seeking and reporting the truth.”

The question is: Is a style of journalism that distorts facts, targets people, and ruins lives still “free press,” or is it “execution by headline”?