Turkey: CFWIJ Demands Journalist Sedef Kabaş’s Immediate Release

Location: Turkey,  Istanbul
Date: January 22, 2022

Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe

*This report is updated on Jan 26, 2022.

Journalist Sedef Kabaş was taken to custody at midnight over a charge of "insulting the President". An investigation was launched against the journalist for her criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a TV program she appeared in yesterday. She was taken from her home at around 02:00 AM to the Directorate General of Security in İstanbul. Following her arrest, the journalist was sent to prison on suspicion of escaping and whitewashing evidence. The arrest of a journalist is a deliberate attack against press freedom.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) considers this detention as an intimidation policy against Sedef. We condemn this attack on freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right and freedom, and demand the immediate release of Sedef Kabaş. 

Journalist Sedef Kabaş was arrested and accused of ‘insulting the President’. She recalled a Circassian proverb, “The ox does not become a king when shows up in a palace, but the palace becomes a barn” on her live appearance in Tele1 on January 21. Later she also tweeted the proverb.

"Öküz saraya çıkınca kral olmaz. Ama saray ahır olur."

Çerkes atasözü

— Sedef Kabaş (@SedefKabas) January 21, 2022

Turkish journalist @SedefKabas detained at 2am today. She’s been placed under investigation… “for insulting the president.”https://t.co/8LJt8Gb3YL

— Piotr Zalewski (@p_zalewski) January 22, 2022

Journalist Merdan Yanardağ announced the arrest on his Twitter account. “Sedef Kabaş is currently under custody. The reason has not been fully explained to her, but I think she is taken there for insulting Erdoğan,” he said. Sedef Kabaş's lawyer, Uğur Poyraz, also confirmed the journalist’s arrest on his social media account. He said he is with Sedef and waiting for her statement to be taken by the police..

The journalist was first transferred to the courthouse after giving her statement to the police. She was arrested after appearing in court. The judge ruled her arrest for 'insulting the President'. The court sent her to prison for a suspicion that she might escape or whitelash the evidence. Sedef will remain at Bakırköy Women's Closed Penitentiary Institution until her trial starts. 

Following her criticism, Sedef Kabaş was targeted by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Home Secretary Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, and Presidency Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın on social media. Also, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) Chairman Ebubekir Şahin announced that an investigation was conducted against the journalist. 

Following the journalist’s arrest, Sedef’s lawyer appealed to the pre-trial detention of the journalist to the İstanbul 58th Criminal Court of First Instance. However, the court rejected the appeal for referring to the strong suspicion that the offense was committed publicly in its aggravated form and the fact that the suspect was put on trial before on a similar charge. Uğur Poyraz announced the court decision on his Twitter account. “We will fight against the pressure on the judiciary. Sedef will be freed soon,” he said. 

Sedef Kabaş was targeted by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Home Secretary Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, and Presidency Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın on social media, after her criticism about Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) Chairman Ebubekir Şahin also announced that an investigation was conducted against the journalist. 

The CFWIJ monitors and follows the media crackdown and attacks against the country's leading intellectuals and journalists with great concern, especially in recent times. The arrest of Sedef Kabaş was solely an act of intimidation against journalists. It cannot be accepted. Freedom of expression is clearly stated in Article 26 of the Turkish Constitution, which is also recognized as fundamental rights and freedoms.

“Everyone has the right to express and disseminate thought and opinion by speech, in writing or pictures or through other media, individually or collectively. This right includes the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas without interference from official authorities.”

We remind the Turkish authorities that such restrictions on freedom of expression are unacceptable. Journalist Sedef Kabaş should be released immediately. 

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.

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