Location: Turkey, Mardin
Date: April 27, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

First hearing of the trial against journalists Rojda Aydın, Nurcan Yalçın and Halime Parlak over the charges with ‘being participants in a prohibited gathering, defying police orders to disband’ was held today in Mardin. The court adjourned the next hearing to October 13. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns these vicious attempts to intimidate journalists. We demand three journalists’ acquittal immediately.

Jin News correspondent Rojda Aydın, journalists Halime Parlak and Nurcan Yalçın’s trial over the charges of ‘being participants in a prohibited gathering, defying police orders to disband’ was held today in Mardin 1st Criminal Court of First Instance. While Nurcan and Halime did not attend the court, reporter Rojda Aydın and all lawyers, related to the case were present. The lawyers requested journalists’ acquittal stating that the lawsuit was illegally filed against them. However, the court rejected the request and adjourned the next hearing until October 13.

A lawsuit was filed against the Mesopotamia News Agency (MA) and Jinnews reporters for their alleged participation in a demonstration held on August 20, 2019. The demonstrations reflect the public outcry to the decision to appoint trustees to Mardin’s city hall. While covering the protests, MA reporters Ahmet Kanbal and Mehmet Şah Oruç, Jinnews reporter Rojda Aydın and journalists Halime Parlak and Nurcan Yalçın were detained. The journalists were released after a week in police custody.

The second lawsuit filed against the journalists about the anti-trustee protests of 2019. Following the demonstrations of last year, the initial charges claimed the journalists were spreading propaganda as members of a radical organization. Ultimately, a decision of non-prosecution was declared for the investigation launched against the journalists.

The second indictment against the journalists, over the same demonstration, was drafted by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The lawsuit was accepted by the Mardin Criminal Court of First Instance on November 19, 2020, over a year after the incident in question. The successive lawsuit highlighted the 30-day action and demonstration ban that the Mardin governorate had enacted following the widely disputed decision to appoint trustees to the municipality. Consequently, the anti-trustee demonstrations were technically unlawful.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the trial against journalists. We call on the Turkish authorities to respect press freedom. We monitor the escalating pressure on the press in Turkey with great concern. We demand an immediate end to these oppressive practices and arbitrary legal harassment. Journalists must not be persecuted for following and reporting on the developments in the country. Journalism is not a crime.

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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