Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: March 8, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

OdaTV News Director Müyesser Yıldız and TELE1 Ankara Representative İsmail Dukel were tried in the fourth hearing today in Ankara on International Women’s Day. The court announced the verdict today. On International Women’s Day, Müyesser was sentenced to three years, seven months and ten days in prison over espionage charges and her one year sentence was postponed. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the court verdict. We demand the journalists’ acquittal immediately. Journalism is not a crime.

The fourth hearing of the trial against OdaTV Ankara News Director Müyesser Yıldız, TELE 1 Ankara Representative İsmail Dukel and Non-commissioned officer Erdal Baran was held today at Ankara 26th High Criminal Court. At the hearing, the court announced the verdict over charges of "disclosing information that should remain confidential for the security or benefits of the state" and "providing information on the security of the state". Journalist Müyesser Yıldız was sentenced to three years, seven months and ten days in prison and postponed one year of her imprisonment.

At the first hearing of the trial against the journalist was held on November 9, 2020, the prosecution sought a sentence of 17 years in prison, alleging the journalist disclosed information that should remain confidential in terms of the security or benefits of the state. Müyesser, who was detained for 155 days, was released after the first hearing.

At the second hearing, the court revealed a new indictment was prepared in December 2020. In the new indictment, the journalists also faced the charge of repeatedly providing confidential information about state security. The new charges were merged with the initial case file.

At the third hearing, the prosecutor sought a sentence of 31 years in prison for all the defendants over charges of "disclosing information that should remain confidential for the security or benefits of the state" and "providing information on the security of the state".

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the immediate acquittal of Müyesser Yıldız. The brutal sanctions imposed on journalistic activities are entirely unacceptable. We believe these attempts to silence journalists cast a dangerous shadow over press freedom. We demand the authorities ensure a safe environment where journalists can write freely without the fear of being threatened or legally persecuted.

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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.