Pro-government journalist Cem Küçük detained in Turkey

Turkish journalist Cem Küçük, known for his close ties to the ruling AKP party, has been taken into custody as part of an investigation into alleged "spreading misleading information to the public" and "blackmail." The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the detention, with the Provincial Gendarmerie Command carrying out the arrest on July 30, 2026.

Sources indicate that Küçük's recent departure from his roles as a columnist for Türkiye Gazetesi and a presenter for TGRT Haber may be linked to his critical comments regarding the internal management of the main opposition CHP party. His remarks about Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's leadership and the concept of 'absolute nullity' within the party reportedly caused discomfort within the İhlas Group, which owns TGRT and Türkiye Gazetesi, leading to the separation of ways.

Küçük's detention highlights ongoing tensions and legal scrutiny surrounding media figures in Turkey, particularly those perceived as aligned with the government, when their public statements draw criticism or face accusations of misconduct.