On October 3, 2025, the marble-walled halls of Istanbul’s main courthouse became the latest stage for a drama that has gripped Turkey’s embattled media landscape. Fatih Altayli, a veteran journalist and one of the country’s most recognizable media figures, appeared before a panel of judges to contest charges that he threatened President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As the proceedings unfolded, the case quickly came to symbolize a broader struggle over press freedom in a nation where dissenting voices are increasingly rare—and risky.
Altayli, 63, was arrested on June 21, 2025, just one day after a broadcast on his popular YouTube program, "Fatih Altayli Comments." In that episode, he discussed a poll revealing that more than 70% of Turkish citizens opposed allowing Erdogan to remain in power for life. The journalist’s commentary, referencing the fate of Ottoman sultans who were deposed or even killed when they lost public favor, sparked the charges. Prosecutors accused him of “threatening the president” under Article 299 of Turkey’s penal code—a crime that carries a minimum five-year prison sentence if convicted.
According to the Associated Press, Altayli’s words were, "Look at the history of this nation. This is a nation which strangled its sultan when they didn’t like him or want him. There are quite a few Ottoman sultans who were assassinated, strangled, or whose deaths were made to look like suicide." Authorities argued that such remarks amounted to an explicit threat against Erdogan, who has led Turkey for over two decades and whose tenure has seen the presidency accumulate sweeping new powers.
Altayli has forcefully denied the charges from the start, insisting that his comments were a historical observation, not a call to violence. "In the more than 40 years of my professional life—and throughout my entire life—I have never threatened a single person, whether weaker or stronger than me," Altayli told the court, as quoted by the Sözcü newspaper. "On the contrary, I have always been the one threatened." He urged the judges to review his full remarks, emphasizing that his intent was never to incite harm but to reflect on Turkey’s political history and the public’s longstanding skepticism of unchecked authority.
Despite these arguments, the court rejected a request from Altayli’s lawyers to release him pending trial. Instead, the judges referred the case to prosecutors for a final opinion and scheduled the next hearing for November 26, 2025. Altayli’s wife, opposition lawmakers, academics, and dozens of journalists attended the hearing, a testament to his stature and the widespread concern over his fate.
Altayli’s prosecution is hardly an isolated incident. According to the Turkish Journalists Syndicate, at least 17 journalists and other media workers are currently behind bars in Turkey, a figure that rights groups say reflects a deteriorating climate for press freedom. Reporters Without Borders ranked Turkey 159th out of 180 countries in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, noting that arrests of journalists for their professional activities remain frequent. Critics argue that charges like “threatening the president” and “disseminating misleading information” have become routine tools to silence dissenting voices.
In August 2025, a separate criminal case was opened against Altayli, seeking up to three years in prison for allegedly spreading misleading information in a YouTube broadcast that authorities claimed threatened national security. Meanwhile, the government has blocked access to Altayli’s YouTube channel, which boasts 1.65 million subscribers and is among Turkey’s most-watched news platforms. Yet, the channel continues to broadcast, often featuring an empty chair in Altayli’s place, with appearances by opposition politicians and fellow journalists. Letters penned by Altayli from prison are read aloud by his assistant, a workaround that underscores both the resilience and vulnerability of independent journalism in Turkey.
With most mainstream media outlets now owned by pro-government businesses or directly controlled by the state, digital platforms like YouTube have become vital for uncensored reporting. As Devdiscourse reports, Altayli’s continued presence on YouTube—even from behind bars—highlights a shift among Turkish journalists toward digital spaces as traditional outlets become increasingly inhospitable to critical voices.
The government, for its part, insists that journalists like Altayli are prosecuted for criminal acts, not for their reporting. Yet, many in Turkey’s opposition see a double standard at play. Ali Mahir Başarır, a deputy group chair for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), sharply criticized the court’s decision to keep Altayli jailed, contrasting it with the speedy release of a man accused of physically attacking CHP leader Özgür Özel. "Is this your rule of law? Is this your idea of justice?" Başarır wrote on X (formerly Twitter), echoing the frustration of many who see the judiciary as increasingly politicized.
The international community is watching closely. Rights advocates have repeatedly sounded the alarm over Turkey’s use of legal charges to suppress media freedom, warning that the country’s slide down the press freedom rankings could have lasting consequences for democracy and civil society. The case against Altayli, they argue, is emblematic of a broader pattern: journalists who challenge the government’s narrative or highlight public opposition to its policies often find themselves targeted by the courts.
For Altayli, the personal cost is steep. More than 100 days after his arrest, he remains in jail, facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence. Yet, his determination to keep reporting—however constrained—has made him a symbol for others in his profession. As the November court date approaches, the stakes are high not just for Altayli, but for the future of independent journalism in Turkey.
In the shadow of Istanbul’s grand courthouse, the question lingers: can a nation with such a storied tradition of political debate and vibrant journalism find its way back to a freer press? Or will cases like Altayli’s mark a new normal, where the price of speaking out is measured in years behind bars? For now, the world waits, and Altayli’s empty chair on YouTube remains a powerful reminder of what is at stake.
