Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns The New Investigation Launched Against Deutsche Welle Reporter Pelin Ünker
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: January 8, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
An investigation was launched against Deutsche Welle (DW) reporter Pelin Ünker and DW manager Peter Limbourg over coverage aired in September 2020 on DW’s website. The investigation was launched after a complaint was made by Aktif Bank. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the attempt to intimidate the journalists and demands Aktif Bank to withdraw its complaint. No journalist should be questioned or prosecuted for their content they dutifully report.
According to the announcement made by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on their Twitter account, Pelin Ünker testified at the Istanbul Police Department of Combating Financial Crimes.
Another investigation was initiated against Pelin Ünker because of the 'Paradise Papers' and 'Off-shore Brothers' articles revealing the misconduct of former Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak and his brother Serhat Albayrak. Both articles were previously published in Cumhuriyet newspaper. The lawsuit filed on behalf of the complaint made by Çalık Holding was rejected by the judge during the hearing held at the Istanbul 21st Civil Court of First Instance. Çalık Holding demanded 10 thousand Turkish liras in compensation from the journalist.
Pelin Ünker has faced three lawsuits for the same articles that exposed the secrets of the Paradice Papers investments.
The report included the two sons of former prime minister Binali Yıldırım, who stated to have shares in at least five Maltese companies. After revealing the scandal, Yıldırım and his sons filed a lawsuit against Pelin for defamation, seeking 500 thousand Turkish Liras in damages.
The journalist was sentenced to 13 months in prison by the same court on January 8, 2019. The charges included slander and insult, however, the sentence was overturned by the appellate court on May 6, 2019.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the investigation against Pelin and demands the parties to withdraw their complaints. The use of the judicial system to silence journalists undermines Press Freedom. We urge the authorities to abandon these initiatives. Journalists are obliged to convey the truth, and such intimidation tactics will not keep journalists from covering controversial topics.
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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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