Turkey: First Hearing Of The Case For Damages Against Hazal Ocak Is Postponed To November
Location: Turkey, Gaziantep
Date: October 14, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
On June 12, 2019, a lawsuit was filed against Hazal Ocak with a claim of 20 thousand TL for non-pecuniary damages due to her article in Cumhuriyet Newspaper titled "Tender game in Şahinbey", which revealed the corruption in Şahinbey Municipality. The first hearing was to be held today. However, the hearing, in which the parties did not participate with an excuse, was postponed to 25 November.
While this case is ongoing, another compensation case is being held against Hazal Ocak. This time, Mehmet Cengiz, the Chairman of the Board of Cengiz Holding, filed a lawsuit against Hazal Ocak with a claim of 1 million TL due to the news titled "Luxury outbuilding with Bosphorus view" published on October 6, 2019, and the hearing of this case will be held on October 27.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented at least 25 cases of threats against women journalists in Turkey this year. While the majority of these have to do with legal harassment, compensation cases are used as a new method to intimidate journalists. We invite Turkish authorities to desist from this practice which violates the freedom of expression in Turkey.
...
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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.