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Journalist Levent Gültekin was detained on charges of "publicly spreading misleading information" due to statements he made during a broadcast on his YouTube channel.
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Gültekin was detained by security branch teams at a cafe in Bebek at 01:20 and taken to the Istanbul Provincial Police Department. Gültekin's lawyer, Çağrı Çetin, stated that his client had been detained and transferred to the police headquarters on Vatan Street.
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STATEMENT TO THE POLICE
The reason for Gültekin's detention was based on statements he made in a YouTube video published on December 17, 2025.
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In his statement to the police, he said, "I filmed the video at my residence on the evening of December 17, 2025. I remember the entire content of the video, but no criminal element was identified." Gültekin stated that the video in question was merely political commentary and that he did not insult anyone. "I am not insulting anyone in my video; I am only commenting on current events. There is no concrete evidence regarding what misleading information I have spread," he said.
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Following his statement, Gültekin is expected to be referred to the courthouse once police procedures are completed. This process marks the latest in a series of legal issues Gültekin has faced in recent years.
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Levent Gültekin previously faced charges of insulting President Erdoğan in 2021. However, the Istanbul 49th Criminal Court of First Instance decided at the end of the trial that Gültekin's statements did not fall under the scope of the crime of insult and acquitted him on February 25, 2025. The court stated that Gültekin acted within the framework of his identity as a journalist and his right to criticism, and that he had no intent to insult.
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The case in question had been opened following a report made to the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER). The report alleged that Gültekin had used expressions suggesting that religious figures could "discipline" President Erdoğan.
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However, the court accepted the prosecutor's opinion for acquittal, emphasizing that the statements made by Gültekin were within the limits of criticism and did not carry an intent to insult.
News Source : 12punto
