Journalist Selahattin Günday denied release in intelligence probe

A Turkish court has rejected the release request for journalist Selahattin Günday, who is currently detained in connection with an investigation into the suspicious 2011 death of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) official Kaşif Kozinoğlu.

Günday was arrested on charges of “disclosing information and documents related to intelligence activities.” The prosecution alleges his journalistic activities, specifically recording Kozinoğlu’s arrival at a courthouse in 2011, constitute a crime. However, defense attorneys argue that the legal regulations prohibiting the disclosure of intelligence personnel identities only came into effect in 2014, making the charges inapplicable to the 2011 incident.

The Silivri Criminal Court of Peace cited “strong suspicion that a crime has been committed,” the possibility of the charges changing against the suspect, flight risk, and uncollected evidence as the grounds for continuing the detention. Defense lawyers have filed appeals, noting that the statute of limitations for the alleged offense is set to expire in March 2026.