Turkey: Duygu Güvenç Trial For “Public Defamation Of Judicial Organs” Adjourned To October
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: July 2, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Another hearing of journalists Duygu Güvenç and Alican Uludağ was held today at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
A lawsuit was filed against Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Alican Uludağ and ex-reporter Duygu Güvenç on July 27, 2018, for their news stories published in Cumhuriyet about the American pastor Andrew Brunson who was detained in Turkey. In separate news stories, Uludağ and Güvenç wrote that Brunson’s subsequent release was based on political and diplomatic, rather than legal reasons.
Journalists who were charged with “public defamation of judicial organs”, in their previous defense statements had stated that they did not defame judiciary organs in their stories and did not have such intent, emphasizing that they simply exercised their rights of journalism and criticism.
Duygu Güvenç and Alcan Uludağ were excused from attending the hearing today due to health reasons.
Güvenç’s lawyer in his defense today said: "My client did not make up the expression 'hostage diplomacy' which is indicated as the basis of the case. My client's news article is within the limits of the freedom of press. The news articles are in harmony with the visible reality."
The court adjourned the next hearing to October 22nd.
CFWIJ follows the case with great concern. Stating journalistic facts are within the framework of freedom of the press which Turkish authorities are called upon to respect.
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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.
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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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