Turkey: Court Ordeal For Journalist Hatice Şahin Continues
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: October 11, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The sixth hearing of the case against Hatice Şahin, editor for Yeni Yaşam newspaper, charged with being affiliated with an armed terrorist organization was held before a Diyarbakır court today. The hearing was adjourned for the third time without significant proceedings till January 26, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the continued intimidation of journalists through prolonged legal persecution.
The sixth hearing of the case against Hatice was held today at the Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court. Charged with being a member of an armed terrorist organization, Hatice faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Hatice did not attend the hearing today and was represented by her counsel Resul Temur at the courthouse.
The prosecution demanded the continuation of the judicial control measures against Hatice as they wait for the warrant sent to the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for a copy of Derya Aslan's statement, who is a suspect in another investigation.
The lawyer of the journalist demanded the removal of all judicial control measures and the completion of deficiencies as soon as possible. The court rejected this request and ruling in the prosecution's favor, decided to wait for the warrant. The next hearing is slated for January 26, 2022. The travel ban imposed on Hatice remains in place.
An investigation was launched against the Yeni Yaşam editor by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on October 9, 2018, and police subsequently raided Hatice's home on October 18, 2018. She was detained after the raid as part of the investigation. The police also seized Hatice’s belongings and electronic devices during the raid. The journalist was released after a day-long detention.
On October 23, 2020, Hatice was indicted of having participated in organizational actions within the scope of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) work. The journalist's travels between Istanbul and Diyarbakır between September and December 2017 and her membership of the Free Women Congress Association were cited as evidence for the terror charges.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the continuous persecution of journalists for their work. We believe these are attempts at intimidating journalists into silence and encroach on the freedom of the press. We demand environments conducive for journalism where journalists can report freely without being threatened by legal harassment. We reiterate that once again 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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