Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: January 8, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

Journalist Ayten Akgün was sentenced to 11 months in prison on charges of insulting the President. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the court verdict against the journalist and demands her immediate acquittal. It is unacceptable to weaponize the judicial system to intimidate and silence journalists.

Şanlıurfa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against former Artı Gerçek News Editor, Ayten Akgün after she posted news from its website on her social media account. Ayten, who shared coverage about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on her Twitter account, was sued for insulting Erdoğan as per the prosecutor's indictment. The court sentenced the journalist to 11 months and 20 days in prison.

The post associated with her prison sentence was a year-end cover of a German magazine she shared that caricatured President Erdogan. While speaking to the Coalition for Women In Journalism, Ayten Akgün said that the caricature was spread across multiple media outlets.

The journalist pointed out that despite the absence of any criminal sanctions against the visual, her situation depicts the authorities' continued persecution of journalists. Akgün continued, “I was sued today for criticism over a post, violating press freedom and the freedom of expression. This is a method of control over the entire society. It is a barrier to thinking, expressing, writing, and drawing. Has it been successful so far? No. There has always been an objection that will bother them, and there always will be." she added.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism continues to document the defamation cases conducted against many women journalists in Turkey. We are aware that insults and similar lawsuits are a new method of silencing and intimidating journalists. We urge the authorities to end these tactics and encourage them to respect press freedom. Journalism is not a crime and should never be punished as such.

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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.