Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: November 9, 2020

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The first hearing of the case filed against Odatv Ankara News Director, Müyesser Yıldız, and TELE1 Ankara Representative İsmail Zeki Dükel, was held at the Ankara 26th High Criminal Court on Monday, November 9 2020. Non-commissioned officer Erdal Baran is implicated in the charges for allegedly leaking confidential information to the journalists. After hearing the defence statements presented by the accused media workers, the court decided to release Müyesser Yıldız pending her trial, with an imposed travel ban. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) believes that this decision should be reconsidered and demands Müyesser be acquitted of all charges.

Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, journalist Müyesser Yıldız and non-commissioned officer Erdal Baran were arrested on June 11, 2020, while TELE1 Ankara Representative İsmail Zeki Dükel was released on probation.

A lawsuit was filed against the journalists, who were accused of "disclosure of confidential information to third parties". The prosecutor requested different punishments, resulting in imprisonment varying from 6 years to even 17 years.

Press Arrest, which monitored the hearing in court, reported on Müyesser’s defence. In her defence, Müyesser pointed out that she did not explain journalism as she said “for many years, a different kind of journalism has been prevalent in our country."

She continued that “If I were to explain what journalism is and how a journalist covers a story, it will seem to many people that I am talking about a utopia. Am I here because the state's security is under a serious threat?” She emphasized that she was imprisoned not because of her news stories, but because she embodies the alleged crime.

The prosecutor requested the court to maintain Müyesser Yıldız’s imprisonment. However, the court ruled in favour of the release of journalist Müyesser Yıldız, but imposed a travel ban. In addition, the court requested to file a criminal complaint against Müyesser Yıldız and the sergeant for allegedly "obtaining confidential information about the state". The next hearing is scheduled for January 6, 2021.

Müyesser Yıldız had previously served 16 months in Silivri prison in 2012, over a series of “conspiratory arrests” that the state officials later declared.

Informing the public is one of the main duties of journalists. On that account alone, journalists cannot be forced to reveal their sources. Journalists should have the freedom to report on their country without any legal consequence. Press freedom is one of the cornerstones of democracy.

The Coalition For Women in Journalism calls for the immediate acquittal of all female journalists who have been kept in Turkish prisons and the dismissal of charges against those on trial for merely doing their job.

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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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