Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns Unjust Trials Against Journalists, Another Dark Day For Press Freedom
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: June 4, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Sedef Kabaş and 38 people on charges of "damaging the economy" was held in Istanbul today. The court ruled the defendants did not provide benefit according to the expert report. Lawyers from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) were given an extension to declare against the report. The next hearing will be held on July 9, 2021.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the lawsuits filed with unfair allegations. Reminding that journalism is not a crime, we demand the journalists’ acquittal immediately.
The fifth hearing of the trial against 38 people including journalists Sedef Kabaş, Merdan Yanardağ, Mustafa Sönmez and Bloomberg economy reporters Fercan Yalınkılıç, Kerim Karakaya on the allegation of "economic coup attempt" was held today at the Istanbul 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance. In the third hearing, the file prepared for each defendant to determine whether "provided benefits" according to Article 107 of the Free Market Law was sent to the expert. Today, the court ruled the defendants did not provide benefit according to the expert report. The court postponed the next hearing to July 9, 2021, giving the BDDK lawyers time to declare against the report.
On August 10, 2018, the news titled “Turkish bank crisis prompts emergency meeting on Saturday” by Fercan Yalınkılıç and Kerim Karakaya revealed in Bloomberg. The story was brought to the agenda that the Turkish lira depreciated against the dollar. After the news, the BDDK filed a lawsuit against the reporters who wrote the news and 38 people who shared it from their Twitter account. The indictment was prepared after BDDK's complaint accusing reporters of "undermining the stability of Turkey's economy". The news stated that after the rise in the dollar, banks did not meet their foreign exchange demands. It was declared that those who demand foreign currency can do so for the next business day, and the BRSA will hold an urgent meeting with the top executives of the banks at the weekend.
Six journalists, including Sedef Kabaş, face two to five years sentences in prison on charges of "violating the Capital Law". Also, judicial fines of up to five thousand days are demanded against journalists.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented that four different women journalists were tried on certain charges in Turkey in just one week. The journalists are constantly being prosecuted with unjust accusations. The hearings of the cases are constantly postponed on arbitrary excuses. We consider that these initiatives against journalists are implemented within the scope of intimidation and silencing policies. We call once again the Turkish state to respect press freedom and dismiss all lawsuits against journalists. Journalism is not a crime.
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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