Journalist Sadık Topaloğlu and his friend Mehmet Savaş were taken into custody on 10 July and sent to prison on 13 July by the court on the charge of "being members of a terrorist organization".

It was learned that Topaloğlu and Savaş, who were first sent to Metris Prison, were deported to Marmara Closed Prison No. 5.

Topaloğlu's lawyer said that Topaloğlu was already sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison on the same charge in 2022, hence this case breaks the principle that one person cannot be charged with the same offense twice. The first case is currently pending at the Court of Cassation, the top appeals court.

The Dicle Firat Journalists Association (DFG) said in a statement: "Journalist Topaloğlu was tried in 2022 within the scope of the investigation that was the basis for his arrest and was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison. The sentence was given on the basis of the testimony of a secret witness.”

The statement continued: "Topaloğlu has been a journalist for more than 15 years. We condemn the media that targeted him while the trial process is ongoing and the presumption of innocence is violated. We emphasize once again that we will defend journalists and journalism in an environment where the law is disregarded, the presumption of innocence is erased and all opposition groups are criminalized by the government with 'terrorist' rhetoric. Journalist Topaloğlu, who is at risk of losing his eyes if not treated, should be released immediately."