On December 20, 2024, Istanbul police took Sözcü TV host and YouTuber Özlem Gürses into custody pending trial on suspicion of demeaning the Turkish military in connection with comments she made on her YouTube channel regarding Turkey’s military presence in Syria. A court put Gürses under house arrest and she continued broadcasting from her home in Istanbul.
Gürses was released from house arrest on February 12, 2025, by a court order under a foreign travel ban. She was chargedwith “publicly demeaning the military organization of the state” on February 16.
While she pleaded not guilty, an Istanbul court found the journalist guilty on April 24 and sentenced her to 15 months in prison. The court, however, delayed the execution of the sentence for five years under the condition that she not commit another crime. The court also cancelled her foreign travel ban.
Gürses’ lawyer said they will appeal the verdict.