Furkan Karabay, a Turkish journalist: "The goal is to silence any dissenting voice."

28 January 2026

CdB

Turkish journalist Furkan Karabay discusses his 201 days in prison, the repressive political climate, and the questionable charges against Istanbul’s mayor.

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Turkish independent journalist Furkan Karabay recounted his experience of spending 201 days in prison in 2025, detailing the repressive politico-judicial context in Turkey. He described the conditions at Silivri prison, noting overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and poor care. Karabay emphasized that he continued writing from prison to give voice to and support the incarcerated, stating his goal is to serve the public interest. He analyzed the current political climate as the establishment of a “terrorist judicial regime” aimed at silencing dissent. Regarding the case against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Karabay noted that the 3,739-page indictment accuses İmamoğlu of forming a criminal organization, with charges relying heavily on contradictory witness statements and open-source data rather than concrete evidence.

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