Turkey: CFWIJ Raises Concerns In Turkey Over Police Assault On CFWIJ Staff.

Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: March 21, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) team member Ceren İskit was deliberately attacked by police while monitoring women journalists’ safety on the Women’s March against the withdrawal of the Istanbul Convention. CFWIJ is devastated by this brutal attack against our team member. We strongly condemn the state action towards women and demand the Turkish state to respect our rights and freedoms.

CFWIJ team Ceren İskit was physically assaulted and told to ‘stop filming’ while monitoring the situation for women journalists at Istanbul convention demonstrations.

The Istanbul Convention is a human rights treaty of the Council of Europe for domestic violence against women which was opened for signature in May 2011 and Turkey was the first signatory of this. However, efforts to abolish this treaty, which was put into force in the country in 2014, have been started since last year, and the Istanbul Convention was pulled off within one night by the President. Later, women begin to protest against the withdrawn of the Istanbul Convention across Turkey. Many women were subjected to police violence during the demonstrations and prevented from raising awareness. In the capital of Turkey, Ankara, hundreds of women gathered demanding President Erdoğan to step back from his decision and made their voices heard despite all the attempted police violence.

During the rally, our CFWIJ team member Ceren İskit was there monitoring the safety of women journalists. Ceren was physically and verbally harassed by police while filming the incident at the very end of the demonstration. As the women were leaving the protest area, a man came and verbally abused a group of women. When they defended themselves from men, our colleague was filming the incident. A group of police pushed Ceren and called ‘Stop filming and stay away. Ceren was identified and was deliberately attempted to stop.

There were protests across Ankara following #Turkey's withdrawal from #IstanbulConventionSavesLives. Our research coordinator @ceren__kaynak who was on ground monitoring the safety of women journalists was also attacked by the police. #CFWIJ condemns the actions of the state! pic.twitter.com/qKvOtgzZFI

— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) March 20, 2021

“Despite all the provocative behaviours and obstructions of the police during the action, women could not be prevented this time,” says Ceren. “Many women from pregnant to old came together and said the Istanbul Convention is ours,” she follows. Stating that this time was different from the other actions, our colleague said all women will gather more to gain their rights.

On the same day Medya Koridor Editor-in-Chief, Canan Kaya, was threatened after posting on her Instagram account in response to the withdrawal of the Istanbul Convention. An internet user threatened the journalist with a voice message, after the post. The attacker, who told Canan to delete the post made in the audio recording, threatened the journalist by using the words "No to the Istanbul Convention". Later, it was informed that the suspect was someone named Hayrullah with a criminal record of rape. The journalist will file a criminal case against the attacker with her lawyer on Monday, March 22, 2021. 

The sanctions against women in Turkey are increasingly causing an increase in tensions. On March 8, International Women’s Day 13 women detained whose houses have raided the allegation of insulting Erdoğan. During their detention, the women were charged with insult due to the actions and slogans they made on Women’s March.

Also, On March 6, in İstanbul, during the International Women’s Day rally, police intervened the crowd and Dokuz8News reporter Fatoş Erdoğan was subjected to police violence. Fatoş was verbally and physically attacked. The police officer threatened the journalist by saying “I would tear you up into pieces''.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the vicious attack against our team member Ceren. We believe that Ceren was identified by the police while she was filming and the attack against her was deliberate. We also denounce the state actions against all our colleagues and all women. The İstanbul Convention is an implement to establish mechanisms to prevent violence against women, take legal measures and protecting victims of violence. Essentially, it is our basic fundamental democratic rights to defend. Once again as the coalition we urge the Turkish state and authorities to step back from the decision that has been made. We know that the aforementioned decision has no effect, and we reiterate that we will not give up on the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention saves lives.

****

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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.