Turkey: Hopes Dwindle In Journalist Şerife Oruç’s Case Who Has Been Battling For Justice For More Than Five Years
Location: Turkey, Batman
Date: November 11, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The trial against the former Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter Şerife Oruç was once again adjourned by the judge. The court has been ruling for the same reason as the previous hearings. Şerife has been battling for justice for more than five years and there is no verdict yet from Batman’s court. The next hearing will be held on February 17, 2022. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) denounces the legal harassment that has been ongoing against journalists. We demand an immediate acquittal of Şerife Oruç.
The journalist was sued for being affiliated with a terrorist organization over the stories she revealed. She was detained at Batman while covering in the field and was arrested on July 5, 2016. She remained behind bars for more than two years on a bogus terror charge and was released on July 9, 2018. She was detained again with an arrest warrant the day after her release. Later, she was freed after one day of interrogation.
Today, Şerife’s trial continued for the 18th time at Batman’s 2nd High Criminal Court. The judge adjourned the hearing once again until February 17, 2022, ruling to issue another writ that the secret witness to attend the next hearing through the audio-visual information system (the SEGBIS).
Previously, the court gave additional time to the prosecutor to complete the missing elements and also ruled an arrest warrant for the witness who could not be found. Today, it was revealed that the missing witness fled the country and lives abroad.
The journalist’s lawyer Mesut Aydın, on the other hand, stated in his defence that one of the witnesses related to this case died, another made contradictory statements and fled the country. Under these circumstances, Mesut demanded Şerife's acquittal immediately.
Speaking to CFWIJ, Şerife said she has been legally harassed for more than five years now. “Because there is no [evidence] of a crime committed by me, the trials against me have been postponed for five years and investigations to convict me are still ongoing,” she told CFWIJ. She also pointed out that the critical media in Turkey has been pressurized, despite the entire world recognizing that journalism is not a crime.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns continuous legal persecution against journalists. These practices solely aimed to intimidate and silence critical voices in Turkey. We demand Turkish authorities end the press crackdown. Şerife must be acquitted of all charges immediately. Journalism is not a crime.
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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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.