04.06.2026 20:51
Social media influencer Mükremin Gezgin was released under judicial supervision in the first hearing of his trial, where he was prosecuted on charges of "promoting and facilitating prostitution" and "inciting hatred or hostility among the public or degrading," on the grounds that his detention period had been lengthy and there was no risk of evidence tampering.
Social media influencer Mükremin Gezgin was released under judicial control at the first hearing of the case where he was being tried as a detainee on charges of 'encouraging and procuring prostitution' and 'inciting public hatred or humiliation,' due to the duration of his detention and lack of evidence tampering suspicion.
MÜKREMİN GEZGİN BEFORE THE JUDGE
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was alleged that social media influencer Mükremin Gezgin insulted a segment of the public by using derisive expressions towards male and female gender in his posts. Cyber investigations and expert reports in the file claimed that the defendant acted as an intermediary for a transgender individual nicknamed 'Masal' and Onur B. to engage in sexual relations. The indictment, which noted that phone message records related to the conversations and money transfers between the parties were examined, demanded that Mükremin Gezgin be penalized for 'inciting public hatred or humiliation' and 'encouraging, facilitating, or procuring prostitution or providing a venue.'
'I DID NOT INCITE PUBLIC HATRED OR HOSTILITY'
The first session of the case opened at the Istanbul 14th Criminal Court of First Instance was held. The detained defendant Mükremin Gezgin and his lawyers attended the hearing. In his defense before the court, Mükremin Gezgin denied the allegations against him, saying, 'I coincidentally saw the mentioned Baki Z. at a fish restaurant. He asked for my phone number, I liked him, we started talking. I am a known person on the video sharing platform TikTok. I had shot a video with my friend known as 'Masal,' whose real name is Onur B., on TikTok. Baki saw this, called me, and said, 'There's a pretty person with you, set it up for me.' So, from another number of mine that Baki didn't know, I introduced myself as Masal and texted Baki, 'I am Masal, I got your number from Mükremin.' Baki stopped messaging and called me from the first number I gave. I told him, 'I am transgender, the person whose number you asked for is also transgender, why did you ask for their number?' and the conversation ended there. Baki sent me around 1,500 liras once, and also tried to buy a plane ticket once but couldn't; he didn't send any other money, I asked for the 1,500 liras as pocket money and he sent it. I definitely did not procure prostitution, and my posts did not incite the public to hatred or hostility; I do women's matinee events and handle social media, I am innocent, I request my acquittal.'
RELEASED
After the statements, the court issued an interim ruling, considering the time the defendant Mükremin Gezgin had spent in detention, the completion of testimonies, and the lack of opportunity to tamper with evidence, and decided on his release. The court imposed judicial control measures on the defendant, including a ban on traveling abroad and signing at the nearest police station once a week. The court decided to hear the person named Baki mentioned in the file as a witness at the next hearing, adjourning the case to October 8.