Turkey: CFWIJ Demands Complete Release Of Journalist Beritan Canözer
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: June 28, 2019Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Journalist Beritan Canözer, a former reporter at the pro-Kurdish Jin News Agency, was taken into custody while she was covering a protest in 2015. She is currently facing hearings in the case.
The said demonstration raised issues emerging from Sur; the now ruined district of Diyarbakır. Police officers said that she was taken into custody because she seemed ‘excited’ to them, and was being regarded as a potential criminal.
She was first jailed under the accusation that she was a member of a terror organization and was acting under the instructions of senior executives of the organization on December 19, 2015. The second hearing of the case took place on June 26, 2019 in Diyarbakır. The prosecutor asked that she be sentenced to seven-and-a-half to fifteen years in prison. The decision was delayed to October 2019.
During her defense, Beritan said, “I do not accept the statements of the witnesses; I did my job as a journalist,” as reported by Kurdish media outlet Jiyanhaber.
In a statement by Mezopotamya Agency, her lawyer Resul Tamur regarded this decision as “the new sanction of the Turkish jurisdiction upon the opposition media.”
Resul Temur, who made a plea in Beritan’s case, said, “The file looks like unsuccessful murder files.” Turkey has the highest figures for imprisoned women journalists. Almost all of the journalists jailed are accused of being a member or supporting terrorist organizations because of their articles, reporting, social media posts and even news gatherings in the field.
“I will continue my profession, whether punished or not,” Beritan Canözer told us.
Our Turkey and Middle East coordinator Nida Karra spoke to Beritan Canozer about the charges and restrictions against her. Since the legal details of her case are still under procedure, Beritan could not share much at length; however, she shared some of the details about her ordeal.“
There is an order of injustice that never changes and we will continue to voice our objections to this order. Four witnesses — two of whom said that they were coerced at the police station, when giving statements — did not testify, but the police had them randomly signed papers claiming that I was a member of the organization,” Beritas said.
She further added that two people who did not withdraw their testimony, renewed it at the second hearing and insisted on their allegations. Although there was no concrete basis for the allegations, the prosecutor insisted for up to 15 years in prison for Beritas.
“I am alive today, but working with dozens of opposition journalists living in Turkey. Unfortunately, many of our friends are being tried for defending the facts and disseminating news. We do not accept these proceedings. I don’t know if I’ll be punished or not, and I cannot make a prediction, but I will continue my profession, whether punished or not,” she said.
Opposition, and especially Kurdish media workers, are always a target, which makes their lives harder rather than their journalism.
In the current situation, not only their freedom of speech but also the basic rights of journalists are violated within the frame of law.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism requests Turkish authorities to change the arbitrary law, which can be applied by an individual’s own will rather than the system in terms of international law, and demands the release of journalist Beritan Canözer.
Journalism cannot be shaped and journalists cannot be tamed through the violation of their rights, their lives and work. We urge the government and the court to support and help us make women journalists safer.
The CFWIJ is committed to following up on all ongoing and pending cases of women journalists facing imprisonment in Turkey.
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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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