Kabaş was taken into custody yesterday evening as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Authorities cited posts made from her X account as the basis for charges including "insulting the President" and "incitement to commit a crime."
Following her transfer to the courthouse today, details regarding Kabaş's testimony have emerged. According to reports from halktv.com.tr, the interrogation centered on a specific post dated September 9, 2025, in which she wrote:
"Is there anyone who still thinks only soldiers stage coups? As of #March19, the country is being ruled by a 'civilian coup'... The strongest presidential candidate of the future has been imprisoned... Now, the country's most deep-rooted and largest political party is being seized!"
"No Incitement to Violence"
In her defense, Kabaş asserted her professional identity as a journalist and maintained that her social media activity fell strictly within the boundaries of freedom of expression.
"Just as the alleged crime of insulting the President is out of the question, there are no indications, names, words, or similar elements regarding such a crime in the posts I made," Kabaş told prosecutors. "In other words, there is no mention of using weapons, displaying violence, terrorist attacks, or expressions of hatred and enmity."
Standing by Her Words
Despite the legal pressure, Kabaş stated she stands firmly behind her commentary. She argued that her description of the political landscape was based on objective reality rather than defamation.
"The fact that the strongest presidential candidate has been imprisoned is not an opinion; it is a reality, a fact," Kabaş stated. She further elaborated on her comments regarding the Republican People's Party (CHP), Turkey's largest opposition bloc.
"The convention debates regarding the CHP, the lawsuits filed, and the desire to appoint a trustee to the administration are naturally indicators of an effort to 'seize' it," she argued. "This, again, is not my own personal opinion, but an expression stated and written by millions."
Addressing her use of the term "coup," Kabaş concluded her defense by broadening the definition: "Do only soldiers stage coups? The answer to my question is, of course, no. There can be civilian coups, military coups, and economic coups; all of these are interpretations."