Headlines
Turkey releases youth activist in case drawing European criticism
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 8, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
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Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 8, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Turkey releases youth activist Enes Hocaogullari amid European criticism. Accused of inciting hatred, his trial continues, highlighting Turkey-Europe tensions.
By Ece Toksabay
ANKARA (Reuters) -A Turkish court on Monday ordered the release of youth activist Enes Hocaogullari pending trial on charges including "inciting hatred", in a case that has drawn sharp criticism from European institutions and rights groups.
Hocaogullari, 23, has been in custody since his arrest on August 5 after returning from Strasbourg where he represented Turkey as a youth delegate at the Council of Europe. In a speech there in March he had condemned the dismissal of opposition mayors and police violence in Turkey.
Prosecutors accuse him of "spreading false information to mislead the public" and "inciting hatred and enmity", charges that could carry several years in prison.
Hocaogullari appeared in court in handcuffs and wearing a black suit, escorted by two gendarmes. Diplomats from Western and European embassies, civil society groups and opposition Members of Parliament watched from the packed courtroom's gallery.
"I exercised my right to freedom of expression. I am innocent. In this hearing I request my release and, at the end of the trial, my acquittal," he told the court, saying his March speech had been in a closed session and had been distorted.
A delegation from the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities visited Ankara last week and met Hocaogullari in prison. In a statement, it said there was no justification for his prosecution or detention and warned that silencing him would also silence young people and democracy.
Amnesty International and other rights groups have also called his arrest arbitrary and urged his immediate release.
The court ruled that Hocaogullari be freed, subject to judicial control measures, while the trial continues. The next hearing is set for February 23.
The case has underscored tensions between Ankara and European institutions at a time when Turkey is seeking to improve relations with its Western allies.
(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Daren Butler and Paul Simao)
Youth activism refers to the efforts of young people to create social change and advocate for issues that affect their communities and future.
Legal proceedings are the steps taken in a court of law to resolve a legal dispute, including trials, hearings, and appeals.
A court order is a directive issued by a judge that requires a person or entity to do or refrain from doing a specific action.
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