DW Journalist Alican Uludag on Trial for Alleged Insult to President Erdogan

Alican Uludag, a Deutsche Welle court reporter, was arrested at his Ankara home on 19 February 2026 for “insulting the president” and “disseminating false news” on X. He appeared before an Ankara court on 21 May 2026 by video link from an Istanbul detention facility. After about an hour, the judge granted conditional release and set a new hearing for 18 September 2026. The same day, prosecutors opened a probe into BirGun senior staff Sefer Selçuk Özbek and Gökay Bascan for a similar alleged insult.

RFI (Radio France Internationale)

Turkey’s criminal code criminalises “insulting the president,” a provision observers say is often used to curb criticism of the executive. Recent years have seen many individuals—including teenagers, journalists and public figures—charged under this article. The 2026 World Press Freedom Index ranks Turkey 163rd of 180 countries. Convictions can carry up to four years and eight months in prison. Rights groups describe the pattern as intimidation of investigative reporting.

DW journalist goes on trial in Ankara for allegedly insulting Erdogan

Alican Uludag is an 18-year veteran court reporter for Deutsche Welle. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the alleged target of the insult. DW Director General Barbara Massing defended Uludag. Amnesty International’s Turkey director Ruhat Sena Aksener called for his release. Reporters Without Borders’ Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu called the prosecution arbitrary. BirGun journalists Sefer Selçuk Özbek and Gökay Bascan face a parallel probe.

DW journalist goes on trial in Ankara for allegedly insulting Erdogan

Deutsche Welle demanded the charges be dropped. The German government called the accusations “baseless.” Amnesty International urged Uludag’s unconditional release, emphasizing that journalists detained for reporting must be freed. Reporters Without Borders said the case reflects a systematic pattern of judicial harassment of media workers. The simultaneous BirGun probe deepens concerns about expanding use of the insult provision to silence dissent.

DW journalist goes on trial in Ankara for allegedly insulting Erdogan

• “I was detained, but I did not commit a crime that warrants arrest... I am a journalist who is being silenced,” — Alican Uludag, DW journalist

RFI (Radio France Internationale)

• “finally being released after three months and can return to his family in Ankara” — Barbara Massing, Director General, Deutsche Welle

RFI (Radio France Internationale)

• “All journalists and other media workers who are the subjects of rights violations, criminalised and deprived of their liberty solely because of their journalism must be immediately released,” — Ruhat Sena Aksener, Turkey Director, Amnesty International

RFI (Radio France Internationale)

• “arbitrarily targeted by a judiciary beholden to those in power,” — Erol Onderoglu, Turkey Representative, Reporters Without Borders

DW journalist goes on trial in Ankara for allegedly insulting Erdogan

The case shows how Turkey’s insult-to-the-president law is used to constrain journalists, while the BirGun probe signals a broader enforcement trend. International watchdogs warn such practices erode press independence and deter investigative reporting.

DW journalist goes on trial in Ankara for allegedly insulting Erdogan

The next hearing is scheduled for 18 September 2026. The BirGun investigation will proceed concurrently, potentially setting further precedents for the application of the insult provision.

RFI (Radio France Internationale)