The seating arrangement at the March 16 hearing in the case involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality sparked controversy. The court seated journalists in the back row of the courtroom, where visibility was limited. The hearing was adjourned eight minutes after it began following a dispute over the seating arrangement, and was subsequently postponed when the panel failed to return. The court also requested that access to the prosecutor’s office be restricted following the hearing. Cartoonist Tarık Tolunay shared a floor plan of the courtroom, demonstrating that the press was effectively prevented from covering the hearing.
March 16, 2026
Diken