Journalist Alican Uludağ Arrested on Charges of "Insulting the President" and "Disinformation"

Investigation Process and Charges DW Turkish reporter Alican Uludağ, who was detained at his home in Ankara on February 19 as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was brought to Istanbul and referred to the Çağlayan Courthouse.
Uludağ was arrested by the court on charges of "publicly insulting the President" and sent to prison.
The allegations against the journalist include "insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, and its institutions" under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, as well as "publicly spreading misleading information," a charge stemming from the legislation commonly known as the disinformation law.
Political and Professional Reactions The arrest of Alican Uludağ has drawn significant reactions from press organizations and the political sphere.
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel criticized the manner of the detention, noting that Uludağ was taken from his home in front of his children and stating that the party would closely monitor the legal process.
Professional organizations, including the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), DİSK Basın-İş, and the Association of Journalists, issued a joint statement.
Emphasizing that "journalism is not a crime," the organizations called for Uludağ's immediate release.
RSF officials also highlighted the concerning impact of such judicial processes on freedom of expression in the country.