On February 24, 2026, the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court held the eighth hearing in the case against lawyer Necat Çiçek, who is being prosecuted over his legal work and participation in press statements. Çiçek is charged with “membership in an organization,” based primarily on statements from a confessor witness.
His defense team argued that the file contains no evidence establishing a criminal offense and asked the court to lift the travel ban and judicial control measures. The court rejected these requests, citing a separate ongoing case against Çiçek and the alleged similarity of accusations, and requested updates on an investigation file in Tekirdağ. The trial was adjourned to May 12, 2026 (9:50 a.m.).
Observers at the hearing included representatives of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), the Diyarbakır Bar Association, and a delegation from Lawyers Without Borders (France).