Journalist Eylem Babayiğit, who hosts the program Mercek on Medya Haber, was detained during a police raid on her apartment in Istanbul on January 22. The operation was carried out as part of the investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, after which six journalists working for the free press were detained on January 17 and imprisoned three days later.

After procedures at the Security Directorate, Eylem Babayiğit was referred to the Istanbul Courthouse. The prosecutor's office referred Eylem Babayiğit to the Criminal Judicature of Peace on Duty, requesting her arrest on the allegation of “membership in an illegal organization” without hearing her testimony.

The judge who sent 13 journalists to prison in a month

Babayiğit’s lawyers requested “recusal of the judge” after learning that the judge prosecuting their client was the same judge who had ordered the imprisonment of 13 journalists in a month.

The judge, as expected, ruled for the imprisonment of Eylem Babayiğit who was targeted by the Turkish judiciary due to her television programs. The journalist will be taken to Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison. 

Sending a message through her lawyers, Babayiğit said, “No matter where we are, we will continue to write, both inside and outside of prisons. The free press cannot be silenced.”