No indictment prepared for journalist Furkan Karabay for 67 days

Journalist Furkan Karabay was arrested and sent to prison on May 15, 2025. Despite 67 days having passed, no indictment has been prepared against him yet. The prosecutor's office is not making progress on the case, citing that the examination report for the digital materials seized during Karabay's detention has not yet arrived from the police department. With the start of the judicial recess, the process is expected to be further delayed.

Karabay is being held on two separate charges. The first is "Targeting individuals involved in the fight against terrorism," and the second is "Insulting the President." However, it is noted that the statements cited as grounds for both charges are comments and social media posts made by Karabay within the scope of his journalistic activities.

JOURNALISTIC ACTIVITY DEEMED A CRIME 

Furkan Karabay's assessments regarding the Ergenekon and Balyoz trial periods and his criticism of the political figures responsible at the time were evaluated within the scope of the "Insulting the President" charge. Karabay's attribution of responsibility to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the deaths of figures such as Kuddusi Okkır, Türkan Saylan, and Ali Tatar during the aforementioned trials also became one of the main foundations of the allegation.

On the other hand, his use of the names of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor and the Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor, who were serving during the investigations conducted into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, in his reporting led to the charge of "Targeting individuals involved in the fight against terrorism."

Furkan Karabay's lawyers and colleagues state that there is no suspicion of a crime, and that Karabay was merely practicing journalism and expressing his thoughts. The fact that an indictment has not been written for 67 days in a case where evidence has largely been collected and Karabay's statements are public has led to criticisms that the legal process is being conducted arbitrarily.

News Source: 12punto