Turkey: CFWIJ Calls Turkey To Abandon The Policies Pursued Against Journalists By Legal Persecution
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: January 30, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The fourth hearing of the trial against journalist Derya Okatan for the "insult" charges was postponed to a further date due to the judge's leave. The Coalition For Women In Journalism considers the continuous postponement of the trials against journalists is implemented as a systematic intimidation policy. We demand Derya Okatan’s acquittal.
The fourth hearing of the case with the allegation of "public insult" against journalist Derya Okatan was postponed to a later date. The hearing, which was supposed to be held at the Istanbul 39th Criminal Court of First Instance on January 26, was postponed again, as in the previous one. The journalists face charges over the news entitled "Mersin Women's Platform: We are exposing the harassing lawyer Onur Kale". Derya was the managing editor of the Etkin News Agency (ETHA) by the time the story was published on the website of the news outlet.
In the news aired on May 1, 2016, it was alleged that lawyer Onur Kale sexually harassed eight women from Mersin Women's Platform, who were detained in Mersin. Following the news, an investigation was launched against Derya upon the complaint which the lawyer filed. The prosecutor dismissed the investigation at that time. However, Derya Okatan was sued as a result of the objection.
In the indictment, the journalist was accused of "containing a concrete assertion of an act that would offend the honour and dignity". Derya Okatan is facing up to two years sentence in prison for "public insult".
The case is not the only case in which Okatan was tried. The journalist is being prosecuted on charges of spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization and blocking, disrupting the information system, destroying or changing data among six journalists who covered the emails allegedly belonging to former Finance Minister Berat Albayrak. Derya faces up to 11 years sentence in prison in this case. The next hearing will be held on May 5, 2021, at Istanbul 29th High Criminal Court.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the accusations against journalist Derya Okatan. Informing the public is not a crime. The cause of the constant postponement of the cases against Derya is an intimidation practice, which was imposed by Turkey. We reiterate that journalism is not a crime.
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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.
Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.