Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns Legal Harassment Of Journalists - Trials For Hazal Ocak, Sonya Bayik Meet Further Delays

Location: Turkey
Date: October 14, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe

Cases lodged against journalists Hazal Ocak and Sonya Bayık , prompted by their critical reporting, met with further delays on Thursday as separate courts postponed their hearings till February 8 and February 10, 2022, respectively. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) demands an end to legal harassment of journalists in attempts to intimidate them into silence. In both cases, the journalists face trial for exercising their journalistic right to report on matters of public interest.

Cumhuriyet reporter Hazal Ocak was embroiled in a lawsuit by former finance and treasury minister Berat Albayrak after she reported a story on land bought by Albayrak in İstanbul's Arnavutköy district, which is on the route of the planned Canal İstanbul project. Similarly, Jiyan News editor Sonya Bayık faces charges under Turkey’s Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations for her coverage of 2019 demonstrations in Turkey against the flooding of Hasankeyf. The CFWIJ is cognizant that persecution of journalists through bogus court cases is fast becoming the norm in Turkey. Such encroachments on the freedom of the press and the right to information cannot be tolerated. CFWIJ demands the immediate acquittal of both the women journalists and an end to legal harassment of journalists. Curtailments on press freedom go against the rights of citizens under any free democracy.

On Thursday, the fourth hearing of Albayrak’s defamation lawsuit against Hazal was held before the İstanbul 8th Civil Court of First Instance. The court decided once again to wait for the finalization of Hazal’s acquittal in a criminal lawsuit filed over the same report. The court had reached the same decision at the last hearing held on June 17, 2021. Albayrak has claimed Hazal’s reportage was slanderous and has sought 200k Turkish Liras in damages. 

Hazal’s story, titled “Son-in-law knows the deal” discussed the ownership of land near the Canal İstanbul project. Hazal reported that the former finance minister, who is also President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son-in-law, purchased the land in 2012, a year after the project was announced. The land was initially zoned for agriculture and later zoned for housing. It was reported that Arab businessmen and influentials bought land around the project and the properties along the canal’s route were considered to hold high-real estate value. Hazal’s report and subsequent coverage stirred a public debate with speculation of fortune’s to be built with the completion of the project.

Hazal has faced at least three different trials for her reportage published in the Cumhuriyet newspaper. In October 2020, the CFWIJ welcomed her acquittal from defamation charges in connection with her report titled "Luxury fixture with a view of the Bosphorus". We hope other judgements follow suit and all baseless charges against Hazal are dropped. 

Meanwhile, Batman 1st Criminal Court of First Instance adjourned the fourth hearing of the case against Jiyan News editor Sonya Bayık till February 10, 2022. Sonya and 30 other defendants face charges pertaining to participation in banned gatherings in connection with 2019 demonstrations against the flooding of Hasankeyf, an ancient town on the banks of River Tigris.

Sonya reported disproportionate police violence against the participants of the protest. She and other co-defendants were detained in June 2019 during the protest and later released after a case was lodged against them. Sonya reported that the police resorted to using rubber bullets and tear gas on the protestors. She further said that she was detained despite showing her press card. 

A ban imposed by the district authorities on protests, meetings and public gatherings in Hasankeyf amid destruction of the ancient settlement has been included in the charge-sheet against Sonya. The court has decided to write to the Hasankeyf district government for footage of the demonstration in question. 

Persistent delays in announcing verdicts in cases targeting journalists and their reportage cast doubts on the merits of such trials. The CFWIJ believes that such lawsuits are nothing but attempts to intimidate journalists into silence and curb dissenting voices. 

The CFWIJ has documented several violations against women journalists in Turkey and we are cognizant that prolonged legal harassment of journalists has become a common tactic to suppress critical voices in a country that claims to be a democracy. We extend solidarity to Hazal, Sonya and numerous other journalists facing fabricated charges based on their journalistic activities. The CFWIJ reiterates that journalism is not a crime. The freedom of the press and the right to information must be upheld for any democracy to thrive.

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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.