Newsletters
Renowned Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli was arrested Saturday evening on charges of “threatening the President” following remarks made in a recent broadcast on his YouTube channel that authorities allege targeted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Altayli was taken into custody upon the instruction of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and was referred to the Istanbul Courthouse after initial processing by police. The arrest comes as part of an ex officio investigation launched under Article 310 of the Turkish Penal Code, which pertains to attempts or attacks against the president.
During his testimony, delivered in the presence of two attorneys, Altayli denied making any threats or insults toward Erdogan. He said he was merely sharing the findings of a public opinion poll and offering historical commentary on the Turkish public’s role in governance since the Tanzimat era.
In the broadcast, Altayli commented that Turkish citizens, even during the Ottoman period, historically questioned the authority of rulers and emphasized the public’s expectation of accountability from high-level state officials. He argued that his remarks were distorted by critics who had circulated a 30-second clip out of a broader three-minute segment, claiming it had been selectively edited to give the false impression of a threat.
“There is absolutely no expression in my speech that can be interpreted as a threat or even an implication of one against the President,” Altayli said. “The statements have been deliberately distorted by removing their context. I am not responsible for this misrepresentation.”
Altayli submitted a USB drive containing the full video to the prosecutor's office as evidence.
Prosecutors argued that his recorded statements constituted a criminal offense specifically targeting the president and referred Altayli to Istanbul’s 10th Criminal Court of Peace for arrest. In the referral, the prosecution emphasized that attacks on the president are treated as distinct from general attempted crimes due to the symbolic and institutional significance of the office.
The referral cited a provision of Turkish law in which physical acts against the president — aside from verbal insults — are considered “assault,” even if the term “assassination” is not explicitly used. The prosecution claimed that Altayli’s remarks, though made in a video, fell within the scope of such an act and demonstrated strong criminal intent, warranting pretrial detention.
Altayli reiterated his defense before the court, stating, “I did not threaten President Erdogan. I only provided historical context. I do not accept the charges brought against me.”
The court ordered his arrest, citing the seriousness of the offense, the severity of the potential penalty, the risk of flight, and the insufficiency of alternative judicial measures. The judge concluded that Altayli’s statements, when considered in light of the applicable legal framework, amounted to a criminal threat against the president.
Altayli’s wife and family members were present at the courthouse as the ruling was announced.
Fatih Altayli is a veteran journalist and former television host known for his critical commentary on Turkish politics and media. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched the investigation after remarks he made on June 20 in a broadcast on his personal YouTube channel, which authorities allege violated Article 310/2 via 106/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.
He was detained Saturday from his home in the Tesvikiye neighborhood of Sisli district in Istanbul.
1 min read
3 min read
