Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns The Prison Sentence Against Journalists Serpil Ünal And Songül Yücel, And Demands That Journalists’ Acquittal
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: March 10, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The trial against journalists Serpil Ünal and Songül Yücel on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organisation" and "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization" was held yesterday in Istanbul. The court sentenced the journalists to one year, six months and 22 days in prison. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the prison sentence given solely for their social media posts, and demands the immediate acquittal of the journalists.
The trial against Süleyman Acar, editor-in-chief of the Mücadele Birliği Newspaper, reporter of the newspaper Serpil Ünal and Önsöz Magazine Editor-in-Chief Songül Yücel, was held at the 36th High Criminal Court of Istanbul, yesterday. The journalists were sentenced to one year, six months and 22 days in prison on the charge of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization". The journalists were tried over their social media posts about the Turkish military “Olive Branch” operation in Afrin in January 2018.
Journalists Serpil and Songül are just two of the journalists on trial for their social media posts about the Turkish army's "Olive Branch" operation. Artı TV Ankara Representative Sibel Hürtaş was one of 11 people detained for their social media posts about the Turkish military “Olive Branch” operation in Afrin in January 2018. The lawsuit was filed after the journalists’ detentions on accusations of inciting hatred and hostility as well as spreading terrorist propaganda. If found guilty, they face a sentence of two to eight years. In the last hearing, the court ruled to halt the prosecution of journalists over the charges of spreading terrorist propaganda and inciting the public to hatred. Also, the court will wait for the Justice Ministry’s permission to prosecute the journalists for charging about “denigrating the Turkish nation”, Article 301.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the court verdict given unfairly. We urge the Turkish state that freedom of expression forms the basis of democratic societies, and the prison sentences given against journalists are a violation of press freedom. Journalists cannot be arbitrarily prosecuted solely for their social media posts. Journalism is not a crime.
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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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