Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: May 21, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The second hearing of the trial against journalist Melis Alphan on the charge of "spreading terrorist propaganda" was held today in Istanbul. The court acquitted the journalist from all the accusations. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ), welcomes the court order. The verdict yet again proves that journalism is not a crime. We demand acquittal for all journalists who were prosecuted on unfair grounds.

Journalist Melis Alphan was sued for seven years six months prison sentence on charges of "spreading terrorist propaganda" due to the photo she shared on her Instagram account at the Newroz (Spring Festival) event held in Diyarbakır in 2015. In the first hearing, the prosecutor requested sentence journalist Melis Alphan over terror charges and the court gave the journalist and her lawyers additional time to make statements against the prosecutor's demand.

The second hearing was held at the Istanbul 32nd High Criminal Court today. Melis Alphan and her lawyers were present at the court. The prosecutor requested the same charges against the journalist. Melis, on the other hand, addressed the prosecutor's request and demanded her acquittal.

Ali Deniz Ceylan, a lawyer of Melis', also demanded the journalist's acquittal. In his defence, Ali said, “Melis Alphan is a journalist and she shared only a photo. There is no element or call for violence in this photo.”

The court board decided for journalist Melis Alphan's acquittal, who was asked to be sentenced to nearly eight years in prison over terrorism charges.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the acquittal verdict. The decision proves once again that journalism is not a crime. We demand the Turkish authorities and the judiciary system to set a precedent for other journalists prosecuted on unjust charges. No journalist should be legally prosecuted due to the coverage or their social media posts. Journalists have to inform the public and reveal the truth. 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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