Location: Turkey, Izmir
Date: January 15, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The fourth hearing of the trial against journalist Ruken Demir was held yesterday in İzmir. The journalist was charged with being affiliated with an illegal organization due to her interviews. The court adjourned the trial after requesting to examine the digital materials. The next hearing will be held on 23 February. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) reiterates the authorities once again that journalism is not a crime. We demand Ruken Demir’s immediate acquittal.

The fourth hearing of the trial against Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Ruken Demir was held yesterday at Izmir 19th High Criminal Court. The journalist, who was arrested on November 26, 2019, was released by the court's pending trial at the first hearing on March 6, 2020.

In the hearing, the file examining digital materials seized by the police was presented to the court. According to the MA, journalist Demir said that the materials did not belong to her. The journalist added, "When my house was raided, although I showed my computer and digital materials, the police took what did not belong to me." "I did not even sign the report of the materials because these do not belong to me and I was subjected to insults by the police for not signing them." she followed.

The journalist demanded the court that the investigations do not affect the trial. Ruken’s lawyer, Zafer İncin, also requested to lift the journalist's travel ban to abroad and judicial control orders. The lawyer also demanded the acquittal of the journalist.

The court decided to continue the judicial control decision of Ruken Demir and rejected her request for acquittal. The court board included examining the file submitted regarding the seized electronic devices and other digital materials. The next hearing was postponed to February 23.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands solidarity with the journalists who are attempted to be silenced through the judiciary. We demand the authorities end their intimidation policies against unjustly persecuted journalists and the acquittal of journalist Ruken Demir. We reiterate that 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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.