Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns Racist Attacks Against Journalist Karel Valansi
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: May 19, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Karel Valansi, the columnist of Şalom Newspaper, was targeted with racist attacks by pro-govt media outlets after the Palestine conflicts. The journalist was also deliberately subjected to online smear campaigns after the racist articles. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns these vicious attacks and stands in solidarity with Karel Valansi and all journalists. No journalist should be exposed to any discrimination.
Journalist Karel Valansi was targeted by pro-govt newspapers, Takvim and Beyaz Gazete after Israel attacked Palestine. The news outlets accused Karel of protecting Israel over the journalist posts on her social media about the developments regarding the airstrikes carried out by Israel. The papers claimed that Karel did not comment on the conflicts between countries, citing the critical post of her about the attack on a synagogue in Turkey in 2017.
The article targeted her by saying "The statements of Karel Valansi, the columnist of the Şalom Newspaper, draw attention about protecting Israel, the zionist terror state.”
The journalist was also subjected to an online smear campaign after the news was published and Karel became the target of anti-Semitic hate speech.
This incident is not the first time Karel has faced hate speech. On March 18, The Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu commemorated the Gallipoli Victory, in his official Twitter account including all the defenders except the Jewish community. Thereafter Karel replied to his post by kindly reminding that he did not mention the Jews while counting the defenders of the victory. The pro-govt newspapers, Takvim, Yeni Akit and A News targeted the journalist with anti-semitic hate speech after her post.
Karel was subjected to hate speech as a ‘foreigner’ and addressed their readers with the words, "Never forget the name Karel Valansi". Responding to a Jewish person is shown as inappropriate in the newspapers’ post.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the racist rhetoric against Karel Valansi. We stand with Karel and demand an apology from her. Nobody's religion, language or race can be the subject of such attacks. We believe in a world where everyone deserves respect and can live freely and under equal conditions. Yet a world without discrimination and racism will bring all peace and happiness. We call on all news organizations to use a language that can lead to equality, justice and prioritizes human rights.
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.
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