A writer, food engineer, and environmental activist, Şık was indicted in 2018 after he wrote articles discussing the results of a government study of pollution. In 2019, he was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison for disclosing secrets of duty, but remained free on appeal. In April 2021, he was acquitted of all charges. In December 2022, a lawsuit for damages was filed agaınst him by a honey company.