21.05.2026 19:40
Journalist Alican Uludağ, who was tried on charges of "Publicly insulting the President", "Publicly disseminating misleading information", and "Publicly denigrating the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial bodies of the state" due to social media posts and had been detained since February 20, has been released.
Journalist Alican Uludağ was released in the case where he was tried under detention.
At the first hearing of the case heard by the Ankara 57th Criminal Court of First Instance, detained defendant Uludağ participated from the prison where he is held via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBIS), while his lawyer and relatives were present in the courtroom. Mustafa Köroğlu, President of Ankara Bar Association No. 1, also followed the hearing.
“THE PROSECUTOR DID NOT WRITE IN THE INDICTMENT HOW I INSULTED WITH THESE SHARES”
After the identification, defendant Uludağ, who was given the floor for his defense, stated that he did not commit a crime warranting arrest and that his only actions were his posts on his social media account.
Noting that he is being prosecuted for 3 crimes, defendant Uludağ said, "For the crime of insulting the President, 13 social media posts I made 1 year ago are shown. The prosecutor did not write in the indictment how I insulted with these shares. There is no insult to the President in these posts, there is criticism about some investigations. There is something else behind the fact that criticisms I made 1 year ago are shown as a crime."
Defendant Uludağ, stating that he is a judicial reporter and that his duty is to follow developments in the judiciary and report news, said, "The main purpose of these shares is to inform the public. I did not commit a crime, I did journalism. I request that I be acquitted of these 3 crimes and my release."
DECISION FOR RELEASE
After the statements, the judge announced the interim decision and decided to release defendant Uludağ, adjourning the hearing.
A case had been filed against Alican Uludağ for "publicly insulting the President", "publicly denigrating the government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial organs of the state", and "publicly disseminating misleading information". Uludağ was arrested on February 20.