Turkey: CFWIJ Welcomes Journalist Zarife Çamalan’s Release And Demands All The Charges To Be Dismissed Against The Journalist
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: February 9, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Newspaper Alınteri reporter Zarife Çamalan, who followed the press briefing of the United Struggle Forces (BMG) establishment on February 4, was released after four days of detention. The court ruled a travel ban abroad and outside of her town premises against the journalist and released her conditionally. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes the journalist’s release. However, we demand the immediate lifting of the bans against the journalist.
February 9, 2021, Istanbul - Newspaper Alınteri reporter Zarife Çamalan, who followed the press briefing of the United Struggle Forces (BMG) establishment on February 4, was released after four days of detention. The court ruled a travel ban abroad and outside of her town premises against the journalist and released her conditionally. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes the journalist’s release. However, we demand the immediate lifting of the bans against the journalist.
Before the press briefing of the BMG establishment in İstanbul-Kadıköy on February 4, 2021, the police intervened the crowd and detained 49 people. Journalist Zarife Çamalan was among the 49 people. After the period of detention was extended until the weekend, Zarife appeared in the court with a request for an arrest by the prosecutor's office on February 8. Stating the court, the journalist was released on the condition of judicial control and a ban from abroad and a travel ban outside of her town premises.
Apart from Zarife Çamalan, Rojin Altay, a reporter for the Mesopotamia Agency (MA), was also among those detained while covering the press briefing intended to be held in Istanbul. Altay was released a day after her detention.
Faced with many obstacles during the detention, Zarife was not allowed to meet with her lawyer Ekin Güneş Saygılı in the first place. Speaking to CFWIJ, her colleague Mürüvet Küçük emphasized that the journalist has many ailments such as heart and blood pressure.
Since the beginning of 2021, the CFWIJ documented at least seven women journalists were detained while following the news on the grounds in Turkey. 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 Zarife faces, immediately. 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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