Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns The Indictment Launched Against Journalist Şehriban Abi And Nazan Sala
Location: Turkey, Van
Date: February 16, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
An indictment was filed against Jin News reporter Şehriban Abi, journalist Nazan Sala, and Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Zeynep Durgut on terrorism-related charges. Both Şehriban and Nazan were apprehended by the authorities, where they remain behind bars. Zeynep, however, was listed in the indictment but has yet to be arrested. The Van 5th High Criminal Court accepted the case, and judicial proceedings are underway. The journalists, if convicted, face a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the unfounded charges against journalists, and we demand their immediate release.
The indictment against journalists Sehriban and Nazan was completed and officially accepted by the Van 5th High Criminal Court today. The journalists have now been behind bars for 130 days awaiting their trial. Their first hearing of the trial will be held on April 2, 2021.
The prosecutor requested a sentence of up to 15 years in prison on the charge of being members of an armed terrorist organization. Journalist Nazan Sala also faces up to 13 years in jail for accusations of spreading terrorist propaganda through the press.
The foundation and purpose of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) were detailed in the 14-page indictment. The indictment claims that the journalists worked for the organizations affiliated with the Press Committee mentioned in the KCK contract. The document also declared the media outlets, where the journalists work, incite public hatred and enmity, and undermine the state and its institutions by fabricating terrorist propaganda. The prosecution claims the media outlets in question do not typically report sports, magazines, or natural events.
The journalists’ notes, along with some issues of the Özgür Gündem and Azadiya Welat newspapers, were seized during the police raid and cited as evidence. The journalists’ phone calls and digital materials from MA's Van office were also scrutinized as part of the indictment’s preparation.
On October 6, 2020, journalists Sehriban and Nazan were detained during the raid at the Mesopotamia Agency’s Van office. Four days later, they were arrested for reporting about two Kurdish villagers named Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban, who were tortured and thrown from a national army helicopter. One of the victims of the torture, Servet Turgut, died from his injuries on September 30.
CFWIJ is closely monitoring the developments regarding the arrested journalists Şehriban Abi and Nazan Sala. We documented that the journalists were tortured and held in the male ward, facing deplorable conditions. The journalists endured malicious behavior in prison, which violated human rights. During their 14-day quarantine, imposed as part of pandemic precautions, they were held in unhygienic conditions, their basic needs unmet. Despite the cold weather conditions in Van, the journalists were denied the necessities to stay warm. During their four-day detention, the journalists were not allowed to see their lawyers and were therefore unable to prepare their defence.
Over the years, MA has been systematically pressured by the Turkish government. Jin News, the only Turkish news agency with all-female reporters, has been on the government’s radar for quite some time. Unsurprisingly, Jin News journalists consistently face detainments and legal harassment from the government.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the authorities recognize and reprimand crimes against humanity, rather than putting politically-polarized pressure on press freedom in the country. We reiterate once again that journalism is not a crime. The arrests and methods of legal intimidation against journalists are blatant attacks on press freedom in Turkey. We affirm that our colleagues Şehriban Abi and Nazan Sala fulfill their journalistic duties and do not commit crimes in pursuit of their coverage. We call for their immediate release.
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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.
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