Alican Uludağ, a veteran journalist and judicial columnist employed by Deutsche Welle, went to trial in Ankara on charges that could result in nearly twenty years imprisonment, including 'insulting the president' Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He has been detained for three months pending trial, prompting press freedom advocates and opposition politicians to demand his release.

Turkey's legal system has removed the leader of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), widely regarded as one of Erdogan's primary political challengers. Opposition figures suspect the replacement has ties to those in power, raising concerns about judicial manipulation and the integrity of the democratic process.