Turkey: CFWIJ Welcomes Constitutional Court Decision Of Journalist Beyza Kural
Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: February 18, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled journalist Beyza Kural Yılancı, who was subjected to police violence while covering the demonstration, was mistreated and decided 15 thousand Turkish Liras (TL) in moral compensation. AYM also concluded that the journalist’s freedom of expression was violated. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes the court verdict. It is the fundamental right of journalists to follow and cover the news. Cannot be prevented.
Bianet reporter Beyza Kural, who followed the demonstration of students in Istanbul University on November 5, 2015, was subjected to police violence during the protest. Beyza was detained with reverse handcuffs. The AYM ruled today that the police committed a crime over the extreme violence they used against the journalist. The court emphasized that Beyza was exposed to the mistreatment of the police. Stating that her freedom of expression was also violated. The high court decided 15 thousand TL in compensation.
According to journalist Alican Uludağ’s report, Beyza Kural was subjected to police intervention despite showing her press card in the protest she followed. Police threatened her saying that "Nothing is the same as before; we will teach you this". Beyza Kural, who was detained with reverse handcuffs, was removed from the scene and was released due to the lack of space in the custody vehicle.
Following the incident, a decision of non-prosecution was given to the request of the journalist’s complaint about the police violence to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. After the prosecution’s decision, Beyza applied to the AYM.
After six years, AYM ruled that the prohibition of treatment incompatible with human dignity and press freedom and freedom of expression were violated. The court also ordered a copy of the decision to send to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to file again an investigation against the police.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the decision. We keep a close eye on the police violence against journalists in Turkey with great concern. We believe the violence against journalists in the country overshadows freedom of expression and press freedom. It is the fundamental right of the journalist to follow the news in the field and cannot be prevented. We demand the authorities respect journalism and press freedom in this regard.
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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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