Several prominent Turkish journalists, including Medyascope editor-in-chief Ruşen Çakır, were questioned by police on today (Oct 6th) as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). All of the journalists have now been released.
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| Journalists questioned in Istanbul municipality probe released Journalists questioned in Istanbul municipality probe released |
The case revolves around claims published earlier this week by Akşam, a pro-government newspaper. The report alleged that Murat Ongun, currently imprisoned communications chief to Istanbul’s imprisoned mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, had covertly financed several journalists. İmamoğlu, the main opposition figure in Turkey and a leading rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was jailed earlier this year on charges widely viewed by his supporters and many international observers as politically motivated.
The Akşam report named a number of well-known Turkish journalists—including Ruşen Çakır, Yavuz Oğhan, Soner Yalçın, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, and Şaban Sevinç—implying that they had financial ties to Ongun in order to influence political coverage. The journalists reject the claims as false and defamatory.
Early-morning police visits
Police arrived at the homes of several journalists early Thursday morning, a tactic known in Turkey as a “dawn operation,” frequently seen in politically charged investigations. Journalists Yavuz Oğhan and Şaban Sevinç were taken to the Istanbul Police Financial Crimes Department, and their mobile phones were confiscated. Other journalists, including investigative writer Soner Yalçın and Batuhan Çolak, were also taken in for questioning.
At midday, Ruşen Çakır was summoned to police headquarters for testimony. Speaking after his release, Çakır said: “There was nothing important. They asked about the claims in Akşam newspaper and about a couple of broadcasts I made. I gave my statement and they let me go.”
Some journalists were briefly released and then called back in, prompting complaints from their lawyers, who described the process as irregular and “intended to intimidate.”
Prosecutor links case to ‘criminal organization’
In a statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the journalists were questioned as part of an investigation into what it called the “İmamoğlu Criminal Organization.” It accused them of “publicly disseminating false information” and “aiding a criminal organization.” Opposition parties and press freedom advocates say no evidence has been presented to support those claims.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been a central figure in Turkish politics since defeating Erdoğan’s party to become mayor of Istanbul in 2019—a major symbolic loss for the government. Since then, both İmamoğlu and senior members of his administration have faced a series of legal cases, which critics say are designed to weaken the opposition ahead of future national elections.
Opposition condemns ‘intimidation of the press’
CHP leader Özgür Özel denounced the police actions as part of a broader campaign to pressure critics. “Every morning we wake up to more journalists being detained. They are trying to rule through fear,” he said.
Several other senior opposition figures described the investigation as an attempt to stifle independent journalism. “This is a clear message to silence the free press,” said CHP deputy leader Burhanettin Bulut. “This is not a legal procedure—this is political intimidation.”
A shrinking media landscape
Turkey is ranked 158 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. Over the past decade, many major media outlets have come under direct or indirect government control, with independent platforms increasingly targeted through lawsuits, tax probes, and criminal cases.
All journalists questioned in the investigation were released by Thursday evening, though the prosecutor’s office indicated the inquiry remains ongoing.
