Turkey: Haberturk Columnist Nagehan Alçi’s Trial Postponed To Next Year
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: Demecber 4, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The first hearing of the case against Habertürk columnist, Nagehan Alçı, was held yesterday. The case has been postponed to next year due to Nagehan's absence. The court decided that Judge Yalçınkaya's request for involvement should be evaluated after Nagehan's defence. The Coalition For Women In Journalism follows this case intently.
The first hearing of the case against columnist Nagehan Alçı was held yesterday at the İstanbul 2nd Court of First Instance. The journalist is being sued for her article titled "Minister of Justice's reaction to that embarrassing decision" published in Habertürk in June 2018. However, the case has been subsequently postponed to February 11, 2021. The court decided that writer Nagehan Alçı would attend the next hearing and the judge’s request to participate in the proceedings will be evaluated after her defence.
In the article, Nagehan criticized the Judge of Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance, Hakkı Yalçınkaya. She wrote that "Unfortunately, the judge-prosecutor mentality, which does not care about individual rights, still reigns in places”. Nagehan accused Judge Yalçınkaya of wrongfully convicting Hrant Dink and his son Arat Dink simply because they were Armenian, adding that the judge’s decision led to Hırant Dink’s death.
Two years after the article was published, Judge Yalçınkaya filed a complaint against Nagehan regarding the alleged insult. Yalçınkaya claimed the article was "insulting and libellous", stating that he was targeted by terrorist organizations as a result. Upon the end of the investigation, initiated by the complaint, a lawsuit was filed demanding Nagehan Alçı be sentenced between three months to two years in prison for “insulting via an audio, text or video message”.
In his statement, Yalçınkaya said, "I was shown at the same level as the judge who made a disgusting decision due to my duties and responsibilities by protecting torturers who do not consider human rights.”
Stating that, at the time of journalist Hrant Dink’ murder, he was an executive judge in Malatya. “I was previously targeted by the Gülen terrorist organization (FETÖ) press. I accidentally learned that the defendant insulted me with the same thought in my internet search. The method of insulting is the same as for FETO members.” he added.
Lawyer of Nagehan, Selim Erbağcı, claimed there was no intention to attack Yalçınkaya’s rights and pointed out that her article is within the scope of press freedom. Erbağcı demands the acquittal of the columnist, adding that his client will attend the next hearing.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism continues to monitor this case. We believe in freedom of the press, and we stress that it is unacceptable to persecute journalists solely for the content they cover and the articles they write.
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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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