Enes Hocaoğulları Second Hearing Monitoring || Live Updates (Updating)
Enes Hocaoğulları Second Hearing Monitoring || Live Updates (Updating)
- 23/02/2026
- ÜniKuir
Enes’s second hearing is today at 14:00 at Ankara Courthouse (Block E, Floor 1, Courtroom No. 24). Live updates: @eneseozgurluk @unikuir
The second hearing in the case against human rights defender Enes Hocaoğulları prosecuted for a speech they delivered at the Council of Europe- was held in Ankara. The hearing began with Hocaoğulları’s comprehensive defence.
Full Defence: https://www.unikuir.org/haberler/enes-hocaogullari-s-23-february-defence-in-the-75-year-history-of-the-council-of-europe-there-is-one-person-who-has-been-arrested-23-02-2026
The hearing was monitored by the EU Delegation to Türkiye; the embassies of Norway, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland; representatives of Amnesty International and Go-For; DEMOS; the Ankara Bar Association Human Rights Centre and LGBTIQ+ Rights Centre; the Istanbul Bar Association Human Rights Centre; the Human Rights Foundation of Türkiye; the Human Rights Association; the Human Rights Agenda Association; the Human Rights Joint Platform; the Women for Women’s Human Rights Association; LGBTI+ organisations; and numerous activists.
Lawyers request acquittal and lifting of judicial control
The court stated that the lawyers would present their defences following the prosecutor’s opinion. Defence counsel Av. Mahmut Şeren took the floor and emphasised that the elements of the offences under Articles 216 and 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code had not been established in the case against Hocaoğulları.
Şeren noted that the alleged offences contain multiple elements and that none were present in the concrete case. He stated that the issues raised by Hocaoğulları had been documented and reported by the Ankara Bar Association, civil society organisations and members of parliament, and argued that the speech should be evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression.
Şeren further underlined that human rights advocacy is a legitimate activity under international human rights instruments, and requested Hocaoğulları’s acquittal and the removal of the judicial control measure imposed on him.
Enes Hocaoğulları: “I came to see whether I will be driven out of the tenth village”
In his final statement, Hocaoğulları stressed that he is being prosecuted for speaking out about rights violations and said:
“Today, I came here to see whether I will be driven out of the tenth village for telling the truth.”
Court issues acquittal
Following the hearing, the court panel ruled to acquit Enes Hocaoğulları.
