26.11.2025 13:10
Fatih Altaylı, who has been detained for 158 days on the charge of "threatening the President" based on statements made in his program on his YouTube channel, has been sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison, and his detention has been ordered to continue. It has been reported that after the decision, Altaylı left the courtroom by throwing his files and notes into the air.
Journalist Fatih Altaylı, who is being tried for a prison sentence of no less than 5 years on the grounds of "threatening the President" during a program on his YouTube channel, was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison. It was ruled that Altaylı, who has been detained in prison for 158 days, will continue to be held in custody as the judicial control measures are deemed insufficient.
THREW THE FILE AND NOTES INTO THE AIR
After the announcement of the decision, it was learned that Fatih Altaylı threw the file and notes he had into the air and left the courtroom.
OPINION
The second hearing of the case against Altaylı, who is facing a minimum of 5 years in prison, was held today. Although the hearing was supposed to take place at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court, it was held in the No. 2 courtroom located across from the Marmara Correctional Institutions due to insufficient capacity in the courtroom.
Fatih Altaylı, his defense attorney, the President of the Turkish Bar Association Erinç Sağkan, and the lawyer of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the hearing. Former president of Galatasaray Sports Club Faruk Süren, historian Murat Bardakçı, academician Celal Şengör, historian İlber Ortaylı, and Altaylı's family also attended the hearing in support.
The prosecution, which presented its opinion regarding the merits of the case, requested that Altaylı be sentenced to a prison term of no less than 5 years for the crime of "threatening the President."
"WHY SHOULD THE PRESIDENT BE AFRAID OF ME?"
In his defense against the opinion, Fatih Altaylı stated:
"It is unlikely that my speech would instill fear in the President. There are 4,000 personnel working in the Presidential Protection Department. After my broadcast, I asked, 'Has there been any change in the President's program?' There has been no change in the President's program either after my broadcast or at any other time. It is impossible for the President to be afraid of something I mentioned historically. I am not a member of an organization; I am a citizen standing in front of you. When you know the President, he is someone who has fought with Israel and is not afraid of Mossad. The President is not someone who is afraid, so why should he be afraid of my historical example? Both I and the President are being treated unfairly here. At the end of the indictment, the prosecutor already states that I did not commit this crime; he says, 'on the grounds that an attack on the President will be carried out.' It is very clear that I have no such intention.
"I REQUEST MY ACQUITTAL"
I want to say that I have been wronged intellectually, not because I am in prison. I won't say I am ashamed to be in front of you right now, but I find it very unnecessary. I request my acquittal from your committee."
4 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS IN PRISON
The court decided to sentence Fatih Altaylı to 4 years and 2 months in prison for the crime of "threatening the President." It was ruled that he will continue to be held in custody as the judicial control measures are deemed insufficient.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
The indictment states that an investigation was initiated due to the statements made by Fatih Altaylı during a broadcast on his YouTube channel on June 20, directed at President Erdoğan. According to the video analysis report containing the relevant statements, it was noted that Altaylı's actions should be evaluated within the scope of the crime of threatening the President. The indictment emphasized that the video sharing was publicly broadcasted through press and media, and after the content was shared, it reached a wide audience, highlighting that the act in question was carried out with the intent to convey, leaving no room for doubt.