Türkiye: Multi-Pronged Campaign Against Women Journalists Covering Elections Worrying Trend

Women journalists face death threats, physical assault, and arbitrary denial of access during the second round of presidential elections

By Damla Tarhan Durmuş

The Coalition For Women In Journalism continued monitoring election season through the reruns and observed several violations including denial of access to the press, unjustified impediments, and physical assaults on women journalists.

We observed different tactics used to target journalists from diverse backgrounds. Where local women reporters, both Turkish and Kurdish, faced physical assaults, foreign correspondents faced online harassment.

• CFWIJ finds some of these attacks, particularly those on Kurdish journalists, to be organized.

• These violations against women journalists covering the elections show a blatant disregard for freedom of expression and journalist safety in Türkiye.

• CFWIJ strongly condemns the violations and urges the Turkish government in its new term to put an end to the harassment and intimidation of women journalists.