Turkey: We are not Safe
Women Journalists Strive For Democratic Principles In The Face Of State Persecution
CFWIJ has noted with concern the dangerous digital-physical terrain that women journalists in Turkey have had to navigate in order to continue doing their jobs.
In 2022, as of November 1, we recorded 150 cases of violations against women journalists. The state has routinely weaponized its institutions to target them. From January 1 to November 1, 2022, at least 50 women have faced legal persecution while 47 have been assaulted in the field by either the police force or supporters of the state. Women journalists have also been targeted through organized troll campaigns online as well as through state media for criticizing government policies. Despite these intimidation tactics to silence them, however, women journalists continue to fulfill their civic role of holding power accountable.
CFWIJ Press Freedom Attack Tracker
Reports
Throughout the month of November 2021, CFWIJ documented 56 cases of violations against women journalists.
Throughout the month of October 2021, CFWIJ documented 40 cases of violations against women journalists.
Throughout the month of September 2021, The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented 61 cases of violations against women journalists.
Throughout the month of August 2021, The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented 27 cases of violations against women journalists.
Throughout the month of July 2021, The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented an alarming 61 cases of violations against women journalists.
In the first half of 2021, women journalists faced the most danger not from criminal elements, but from the states they operate in.
Press Freedom Newsroom
WPF strongly condemns the police raid following Kurdish Journalists' Day targeting journalists from Kurdish news outlets across Turkiye.
WPF condemns the prosecutor's decision to pursue charges against journalist Asena Tunca for allegedly "opposing the law on meetings and demonstrations" following her violent detention by law enforcement while covering a protest against the government's handling of the February 2024 earthquakes.
WPF expresses profound dismay at the relentless pursuit of journalist Ayşe Kara by the Diyarbakır prosecutor, who has gone to unjustifiable lengths to harass her.
WPF condemns the threats and violence Medine Mamedoğlu endured as a direct consequence of her exposing police brutality during protests in Van.
WPF views the lawsuit by Deputy Ali İhsan Arslan of the ruling AKP party against İleri Haber journalists İzel Sezer and Doğan Ergün as an attempt to stifle critical journalism, and we call for the case to be dismissed.
Rojin Akın has been finally vindicated of “membership of a terrorist organization” charges.
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Petitions & Timelines
The Turkish state has routinely weaponized its judiciary as well as its law enforcement agencies to target the journalist community in the country.