Turkey: CFWIJ Demands Journalist Sibel Hurtaş’s Acquittal
Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: November 9, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The first hearing of the case against journalist Sibel Hürtaş was held in Ankara today. The court ruled to force the complainants' police officers for the next hearing and gave additional time to complete missing elements of the case. The next hearing was adjourned until April 12, 2022. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) demands the Turkish authorities acquit the journalist. Journalism is not a crime.
The first hearing of the case against former Artı TV correspondent, Sibel Hürtaş, on the charge of 'resisting to not fulfill officers’ duty' was held today in Ankara 37th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Sibel was sued for following the bar associations’ protest about a new draft law amending Turkey’s Law on Lawyers at Turkey’s parliament. On July 3, 2020, the journalist was impeded and beaten by the police force. Despite Sibel lodging a criminal complaint against the police forces, who physically assaulted the journalist, the court decided to dismiss the complaint. Additionally, four police officers sued the journalist with the allegation of "preventing public duty". If convicted, Sibel may be sentenced to three years in prison.
Today, the journalist and her lawyers Sercan Aran and Doğan Erkan attended the trial. Firstly, Sibel started to defend herself. She started her words by underlining her profession. She said, “I am a journalist. This is a profession that performs as a public service and my job has been hindered.” In her defense, Sibel underlined that her right to report was violated. Even though she was allowed to be in the area to report, police surrounded her and prevented him from doing her job again. Sibel stated that the police beat the journalist and put her in the detention vehicle and one of the police officers who sat on her side tortured her. She said she was taken to the police station by squeezing her neck. Although she warned that she could not breathe, the police officer said, “Die, die. I want you to die,” and continued to use violence.
During that day, Sibel was also fined for violating the pandemic rules. However later on the journalist objected to the decision and her fine was cancelled. “The intervention against me was not due to the pandemic. It was deliberately aimed at preventing my journalistic activity there. This lawsuit is also an attack against journalism and journalism is not a crime,” she continued her defense.
After Sibel’s defense lawyer Sercan Aran stated that there is serious pressure and violence against journalists in Ankara. He emphasized that the right of journalists to report is violated. He demanded the director of the security branch, who ordered the intervention against the journalist, must be brought to the next hearing. Lawyer Doğan Erkan, on the other hand, demanded Sibel’s acquittal immediately. “State and law enforcement officials are obliged to take measures to ensure freedom of the press. Here we see the opposite from the case. We think that the complainants are essentially committing crimes,” he said.
Speaking to CFWIJ Research Coordinator Ceren İskit, Sibel Hürtaş said that she was prevented from doing her job. “The police either put their shields on the lens of our cameras, or beat us up, or they can detain us, torture us, and then file a criminal complaint against us, as it happened to me,” she included her words. The journalist stated that she was surprised with the judge's positive approach to her as it was unlikely to be expected. The judge decided to force the police officers who did not attend the hearing. She also said, “We will continue to defend journalism and say that journalism is not a crime.”
Lawyer Sercan Aran also said he had declared to the court that the indictment was biased. He said Sibel Hürtaş was at the scene of those protests to report and defend the free press. The lawyer also pointed out that despite the mistreatment that Sibel faced at the protest, her criminal complaint file was dismissed.
The CFWIJ condemns the lawsuit filed against journalist Sibel Hürtaş. We believe these practices were implemented to silence the journalist. We demand the Turkish authorities impose necessary criminal sanctions on the police officers. We consider these incidents to hinder journalism. Sibel Hürtaş must be immediately acquitted. As Sibel said in her defense, journalism is a public duty and cannot be prevented. 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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