Turkey: CFWIJ Demands Justice For Journalists Şehriban Abi, Nazan Sala And Zeynep Durgut, Journalism Is Not A Crime
Location: Turkey, Van
Date: July 2, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The second hearing of the trial against journalists Şehriban Abi, Nazan Sala and Zeynep Durgut was held today in Van. Journalists are facing charges of “being a member of a terrorist organization" due to their journalistic coverage. The court adjourned the next hearing to October 21, 2021, ruling that the missing elements of the case should be completed. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) demands the journalists' acquittal immediately who revealed the truth and set an example of good journalism. We reiterate once again, journalism is not a crime.
On October 6, 2020, journalists Şehriban and Nazan were detained during the raid at the Mesopotamia Agency’s Van office. Four days later, they were arrested for reporting about two Kurdish villagers named Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban, who were tortured and thrown from a national army helicopter. One of the victims of the torture, Servet Turgut, died from his injuries on September 30.
The indictment against journalists Şehriban and Nazan was completed on February 16, 2021, and officially accepted by the Van 5th High Criminal Court. The prosecutor requested a sentence of up to 15 years in prison on the charge of being a member of an armed terrorist organization. Journalist Nazan Sala also faces up to 13 years in jail for accusations of spreading terrorist propaganda through the press. The first hearing of the case was held on April 2, 2021, and the imprisoned journalists were released after 175 days of detention.
Today, journalists Şehriban, Nazan and Zeynep did not attend the hearing. All the lawyers present at the court. Erselan Aktan, one of the lawyers, stated that the news coverage in the case is a journalism example with the high public interest. Aktan also added that the story of the Kurdish villagers was known by the prosecutor and the court board. Ekin Yeter, another lawyer who spoke today at court, emphasized that there was no criminal element in the file and highlighted that opposition media were under threat. Yeter requested the court board to eliminate the missing elements in the file and to remove the judicial control for all journalists.
After a break, the court requested information about journalist Nazan Sala about the investigation carried out in Ankara and adjourned the next hearing to October 21, 2021, ruling that the missing elements should be completed.
CFWIJ has closely monitored the developments regarding the arrested journalists Şehriban Abi and Nazan Sala. We documented that the journalists were tortured and held in the male ward, facing deplorable conditions. The journalists endured malicious behaviour in prison, which violated human rights. During their 14-day quarantine, imposed as part of pandemic precautions, they were held in unhygienic conditions, their basic needs unmet. Despite the cold weather conditions in Van, the journalists were denied the necessities to stay warm. During their four-day detention, the journalists were not allowed to see their lawyers and were therefore unable to prepare their defence.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the Turkish state to put an end to its repression of journalists. The journalism profession is obliged to write the truth. Cannot be prosecuted. We demand a fair trial from the Turkish judiciary, and we demand the journalists to be acquitted of all charges. 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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