Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: February 11, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The 13th hearing of the trial against journalist Meşale Tolu was held today in İstanbul. The journalist faces charges of being affiliated with a terrorist organisation. The court gave today to defence lawyers a month to examine the expert report and present their response. The next hearing was adjourned until September 16-17, 2021. The verdict is expected to be announced at the next hearing. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the legal persecution against journalists in Turkey. We demand Meşale’s acquittal immediately.

The 13th hearing of the case against Meşale Tolu was held today in Istanbul 29th High Criminal Court and once again postponed. The journalist is facing up to 25 years sentence in prison with the charges of spreading terrorist propaganda and being a member of a terrorist organization.

According to RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, the journalist, who did not attend the trial, said that she has a great burden due to the trial she came across. The court rejected requests from the lawyers with questions about the procedure today. "We are not allowed to refuse the allegations," Tolu emphasized that this does not only affect her but generally all government critics and opposition activists.

The journalist was arrested in Istanbul in April 2017 and was imprisoned for more than seven months. She had worked in Istanbul for the ETHA News Agency, among others. The trial against her began in October 2017, around two months later Tolu was released conditionally. In August 2018 she was allowed to return to her home country Germany after the ban of travelling abroad was lifted.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands Turkish authorities to end the legal persecution against journalists. We are deeply concerned about the increasing repression against journalists in the country. We demand the Turkish authorities end their intimidation policies and dismiss all the charges which journalists face. 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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