Turkey: Black Days For Press Freedom— Four Women Journalists Sentenced To Prison, One Woman Journalist Battered In The Field
Location: Turkey, İstanbul
Date: September 23, 2022Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Between September 16-23, journalists Nurcan Yalçın, Hatice Şahin, Rabia Önver and Rojda Oğuz were sentenced to prison on terrorism charges. Journalist Meral Danyıldız was subjected to physical violence by three police officers in the field. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands an immediate end to this worsening and unsafe environment for journalists in the country. Journalists cannot be silenced, imprisoned or subjected to any form of violence simply because they pursue the truth and inform the public. Journalism is not a crime!
Four women journalists sentenced to prison for terrorism charges
On September 22, journalist Nurcan Yalçın was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in the trial where she was tried on the charge of " willingly aiding a terrorist organization". Nurcan was sued for her interviews with women before the curfews in Diyarbakır's Sur district between 2015 and 2016. The prosecutor claimed that in the videos shot by the journalist, she made speeches that supported the members of the terrorist organization morally. He claimed that the journalist had recorded footage inciting violence, armed struggle or rioting.
At the previous hearing, the prosecutor repeated his opinion to sentence her to prison. The hearing was postponed to September 22 after the journalist's lawyer, Resul Temur, requested additional time for the defence.
According to the Media and Legal Studies Association (MLSA), Temur, the journalist's lawyer, stated that they submitted documents to the court that prove Nurcan is a journalist, and that there was no reason for the prison sentence.
Similarly, on September 19, the final hearing of the lawsuit filed against Yeni Yaşam Newspaper editor Hatice Şahin on the charge of "membership in an armed organization" was held. Hatice was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison with the allegation that she "participated in terrorism activities within the scope of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) protests".
Presenting his opinion at the ninth hearing held on May 11, 2022, the prosecutor demanded that the journalist be sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization". According to Deniz Tekin from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), the prosecutor’s opinion includes the statements of secret witnesses, journalist Hatice Şahin was active for a terrorist organization during the curfews between 2014 and 2015, by going to the district of Sur, Diyarbakır. It was claimed that she incited people to conflict and rebellion.
On September 16, journalist Rojda Oğuz was sentenced to 1 year, 6 months and 22 days in prison in a lawsuit filed on charges of "membership in an armed terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization". Former Jin News reporter Oğuz was detained in a police raid on January 8, 2016, on the grounds that she participated in the protests of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University students at different times. She was arrested and taken to prison for four months. Then, she stood on trial with a sentence of up to seven years on charges of "membership of an armed terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization".
Protests and marches followed by the journalist due to her professional activities were considered criminal elements in the case, which has been going on for six years. In addition, in the case file, it was claimed that in the letter sent by the Prime Ministry General Directorate of Press and Broadcasting to the court, there was no information or document about whether Rojda is a journalist and she has a press card. The corporate press card issued by the media organization where the journalist worked at that time was also not accepted by the court.
On September 23, Jinnews journalist Rabia Önver was sentenced to 1 year 6 months and 27 days in prison on terrorism charges because of her social media posts. The investigation was conducted against her on March 2, 2022. She testified at a counter-terrorism bureau in Hakkari, Turkey, and was accused of spreading terrorist propaganda.
Sadiye Eser and Sadık Topaloğlu also sentenced to prison
On September 8, journalist Sadiye Eser and her colleague Sadık Topaloğlu were sentenced to six years and three months in prison on allegations of being “members of an illegal organization” based on the statements of an absent witness. According to Özcan Kılıç, the journalist’s lawyer, the prosecution’s arguments were based on allegations reportedly made by a witness, who never appeared before the court during the trial.
Sadiye was detained on November 29, 2019, after leaving MA’s office in İstanbul. She was formally charged with being a “member of an armed terrorist organization” and arrested on, December 2, 2019, based on the absent witness’ statements. On March 26, 2020, Sadiye was released with judicial conditions imposed on her. Sadiye has throughout denied the charges against her and maintains that she is only a journalist, not associated with any illegal organization.
Meral Danyıldız subjected to police violence in the field, her wrists squeezed and injured
On Wednesday, September 21, the 5th hearing of the Saturday Mothers/People, families of victims of enforced disappearances, was held at the Çağlayan Courthouse. Journalists following the trial were blocked by the police. Three police officers put their nails on the arm of Artı TV Reporter Meral Danyıldız and twisted her arm. She was prevented from filming and subjected to physical attack. Sharing a photo of her arm after the incident on Twitter, Meral got an assault incident report with the help of Ülkü Şahin, the lawyer of the Journalists' Union of Turkey, and stated that he would file a complaint against the police officers.
Kollarımı sıka sıka, tırnaklarını gecire gecire, hincla saldırdılar. Bir kisi hincini alamayinca uc kisi birden. Suc duyurusunda bulunacagim. Siz de yargilanacaksiniz. https://t.co/cU1supYPXU pic.twitter.com/aPTbwfapL7
— Meral Danyıldız (@meraldanyildiz) September 21, 2022
Meral is one of the journalists who are regularly exposed to police violence while covering news in the field. On July 8, she was threatened by a police chief while following incidents about healthcare workers' strike in İstanbul for better working conditions after their colleague was fatally killed in Konya. On June 26, police blockaded her and other journalists and did not allow them to film LGBTQ+ Pride in Istanbul. On May 31, she was subjected to police violence while reporting a protest. She was broadcasting live when police unleashed tear gas on members of the press.
By the end of the year, we expect Turkey to have a 50% share in physical violence cases recorded all over the world
In 2021, 25.6% of the cases of violence against women and LGBTI+ journalists recorded in 128 countries belonged to Turkey. From the beginning of 2022 to September 23, this rate increased to 43.9%. If police violence in Turkey continues in this way, we estimate that by the end of the year half of all physical violence cases in the world will be recorded in Turkey. In other words, in cases of physical violence against women and LGBTI+ journalists in 2022, half of the cake will belong to Turkey.
In the Annual Report that we published last year, Turkey was ranked 1st as the country with the highest number of cases of violence in total. A difference of 2.5 times was noted with the subsequent country, the United States. If the situation continues like this, Turkey will probably be the country with the highest number of cases of violence against women journalists at the end of this year.
The 'climate of fear' that is being tried to be created in Turkey
A ruthless policy is followed by the government against journalists who undertake the duty of informing the public, in order to ignore the existing problems in Turkey and to act as if there are no problems. Journalists who want to reveal the truth are either imprisoned, beaten or intimidated.
Seeing that this climate of fear does not intimidate or despair journalists, the CFWIJ is inspired by them. The fact that women and LGBTI+ journalists in Turkey are so brave and continue to exist in the field as heroes who persevere in fulfilling their duty despite all violence impresses the world. We continue to work for these brave heroes to continue their profession in a safe environment where they do not have to struggle with challenges. Because journalism is not a crime. Regardless of preference, belief, race or identity, being a woman, being LGBTI+ and being a journalist is not a crime!
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.