Turkey: Hearing Of Sabiha Temizkan In The Case For “Making Propaganda Of A Terrorist Organisation” Is Postponed To October 22
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: October 15, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Fourth hearing of the case against Sabiha Temizkan was held today. While she did not attend the hearing due to health reasons, her lawyer asked for an extension of time from the court to make her ready before court to give her final defense statements. Defense statements will be heard on October 22.
A lawsuit was opened against Sabiha Temizkan for a social media post she shared in 2014. She is accused of “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation through the press”. In the said tweet she said: “Maxmur is liberated from ISIS, we are with HPG forces”. However during the first hearing of the case she said she didn’t even remember what she had written as it is an old tweet. She is requested to be sentenced to between one year six months to seven years six months of imprisonment.
Sabiha Temizkan is not the only woman journalist in Turkey who is facing “terror propaganda” charges due to social media activity. The Coalition For Women In Journalism constantly monitors the deterioration of press freedom in the country. At least 25 women journalists have been attacked in various ways this year and “social media charges” are used to silence journalists. We stand with the right to freedom of speech and demand acquittal of the case against Sabiha Temizkan.
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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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