ISTANBUL (AP) — Six leading Turkish journalists were called in for questioning by police on Thursday over allegations of spreading false information about the jailed mayor of Istanbul, the country’s largest city.
The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office said police had been instructed to take statements from the journalists as part of an investigation into “the criminal organization for profit” of the mayor, a reference to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
In a statement, prosecutors said the journalists were questioned “on charges of spreading false information publicly and aiding a criminal organization.” It did not specify whether the journalists had been formally charged or faced possible charges.
İmamoğlu and dozens of Istanbul city officials were detained in March on corruption allegations. The mayor has been in custody since then and has yet to have a trial on the corruption claims.
İmamoğlu, who represents the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, is seen as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 22-year rule. His detention has sparked the largest street protests in more than a decade.
Burhanettin Bülut, the CHP’s vice-chairman, said police had visited the journalists’ homes early in the morning and confiscated their phones.
“This ‘de facto arrest’ is a clear threat targeting the intimidation, silencing and suppression of the entire opposition and free press,” Bülut said. “Systematic pressure against the press in Turkey has now turned into a hunt.”
The corruption case is one of many criminal cases against İmamoğlu that could lead to his imprisonment and a ban on political activities. Another case against him, launched on Oct. 27, accuses him of spying.
The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office named the journalists as Soner Yalçın, Sabancı Sevinc, Aslı Aydıntaşbas, Rüşen Kakır, Yaвуz Oğan and Batuhan Kolak. They all questioned the legitimacy of the cases against İmamoğlu, which many see as politically motivated. The government says the courts are acting independently.
According to the 2025 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Turkey ranks 159th out of 180 countries.
