Turkey: Hülya Kilinç Along With Six Other Journalists Were Released But Charged With “Opposition To The Law On National Intelligence Agency”

Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: September 10, 2020

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The verdict hearing in the lawsuit filed against journalist Hülya Kılınç for her report on the death of a MİT (National Intelligence Agency) officer in Libya was held today. Hülya Kılınç has been in prison for the past six months and is charged with "disclosing information that should remain confidential due to the nature of the security of the state or domestic or foreign political benefits". At the hearing held today, the journalist was acquitted in terms of TCK 329, but was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison for "publishing information and documents regarding the duties and activities of the National Intelligence Organization through the press and media". Considering the time spent in prison, the journalist was released.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes her release as it is unacceptable for a journalist to be accused of revealing state secrets just for making conscientious news by defending the public's right to information.

Bianet recorded Hülya Kılınç’s statement during the hearing. “I hereby repeat the defense statement I've earlier submitted to your court. No matter from which angle you analyze the story, it is evident that it is a story about a funeral. It was impossible for me to have known that the ones visible in the photograph were MiT personnel. I do not know it. If no charges are filed against those who were not aware of this fact, neither should there be charges set against me”.

Hülya then went on with her defense statement with the following: "Photos taken at the funeral were not filmed secretly. They were provided by Akhisar Municipality. Only villagers lifting the coffin are visible in this visual. If I had the intention to disclose MIT members attending the funeral, I would have added a caption saying, 'colleagues of the martyr attended the funeral.' I reported the story solely to inform the public. I demand my release and my acquittal."

Celal Ülgen, the lawyer of Hülya Kılınç, stated that it was, on the contrary Takvim and Sabah newspapers that "exposed" the MIT officer and pointed out to the lawsuit being a conspiracy, "It is very clear that the allegations about the journalist are inconsistent. This case is no longer about disclosure of state information but turned into a case of “why did you remember the martyrs?”.

While Hülya Kılınç was acquitted of the charges on disclosing secret documents of the state, she was sentenced to three years and nine months for opposition to the MIT Law, considering the time already spent in prison the court ruled for the release of the journalist.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the release. Hülya Kılınç is not the first journalist arrested for revealing state secrets, still 4 female journalists are being held in prison on various charges. As The Coalition For Women In Journalism, we believe that the Turkish government should create a safer environment for journalists in the country.

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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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