Journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz appeared before the judge at the first hearing of her trial under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) for a news story published on Bianet about the life experiences of two Armenian youths. Yılmaz emphasized that the story was part of her journalistic activity, noting that she was detained while walking down the street based solely on an anonymous tip to CİMER, and requested her acquittal. Her lawyers argued that the process initiated by an anonymous report was unlawful, that an arrest warrant was issued for Yılmaz despite the prohibition on arrest under Article 301, and that the indictment was drawn up after the legal deadline had passed. The court accepted the prosecutor’s request for time to prepare their opinion and postponed the hearing until April 21, 2026.
December 2, 2025
MLSA