Turkey: CFWIJ Demands Journalists İsminaz Temel's And Havva Cuştan's Acquittal Immediately
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: February 18, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The 11th hearing of the trial against Etkin News Agency (ETHA) editor İsminaz Temel and reporter Havva Cuştan on terrorism charges was held today. The court decided to hear the witnesses and to continue the travel ban against the journalists. The next hearing was postponed to May 25. The Coalition For Women In Journalism considers that court decisions are constantly postponed and journalists are being intimidated. We demand the journalists’ acquittal immediately.
The 11th hearing of the trial in which ETHA editor İsminaz Temel and journalist Havva Cuştan were tried on the allegation of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" and "spreading propaganda for the organization" was held today at the Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court. If the court convicted, both journalists would be sentenced to 20 years in prison. During the trial today, the court ruled to continue hearing the witnesses in terms of other persons who were tried within the scope of the file. Also, the court ordered the continuation of the travel bans against the journalists. The next hearing will take place on May 25, 2021.
İsminaz Temel and her co-worker in the ETHA, Havva Cuştan were arrested and imprisoned on October 25, 2017, following a raid on their houses on October 19, 2017. The journalists were charged with “being a member of and propagandizing for the illegal Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP).” citing their journalistic activities, the funerals they attended and the social media posts they shared. The confidential witness statements were also shown as evidence of the crime. Both journalists were released on July 18, 2018, and February 14, 2019, respectively on the condition of application of judicial control mechanisms and travel bans.
Havva faces up to 20 years in prison for being affiliated with an armed terrorist organization and spreading propaganda for an armed terrorist organization. İsminaz, on the other hand, faces up to 15 years in prison for being a member of an armed terrorist organization.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the continual postponement of ongoing cases against journalists. We demand the abandonment of the policy of intimidation applied by the judiciary in Turkey. We emphasize that no one should be prosecuted for their journalistic coverage. We reiterate once again journalism is not a crime. We demand the immediate acquittal of both journalists.
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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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