Turkey: Imprisoned Journalist Müyesser Yildiz Is Charged With 20.000 TL For “Insulting” The Minister Of National Defense

Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: September 10, 2020

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The compensation case filed by the Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar last year against OdaTV Ankara News Director Müyesser Yıldız, who has been in Ankara Sincan prison for "spreading information that should remain confidential due to the security of the state or domestic or foreign political benefits" since June, has been resolved today. In the case demanding 250.000 TL non-pecuniary damages, the judge decided to partially accept claims against Müyesser Yıldız and sentence her to pay 20.000 TL in non-pecuniary damages. The verdict will also be published in the newspaper with the highest circulation, with the costs to be collected from Müyesser Yıldız.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the pre-trial detention of Müyesser Yıldız, who is at risk under pandemic conditions. It is further unacceptable that the imprisoned journalist is punished for her reporting activities. The news piece of Müyesser Yıldız concerning the Minister of National Defense, who is a public figure, should be evaluated within the framework of freedom of the press.

The case initiated against Müyesser Yıldız is concerning a news piece she wrote titled: "The Most Critical Secret Witness of the Coup Cases: 'Hulusi Akar is a crypto member of FETÖ/PDY”. The news piece simply retold the testimony of a secret witness code named “Abdullah” during a hearing concerning the July 15 coup attempt.

Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar, who served as the Chief of the General Staff during the coup attempt, following the publication of the news applied to the court to block access to the news and demanded 250 thousand TL compensation from Müyesser Yıldız, claiming that the news contained "unnecessary, libelous, imaginary accusations" and that the journalist "insulted him".

The following is a compilation of Müyesser Yıldız’s defense statement in the last two hearings. Müyesser Yıldız couldn’t attend the hearing today due to pandemic restrictions in Sincan prison.

“Mr. Akar expresses that I harbor "hatred, envy and hostility" to him. I do not know him personally, I'm not his colleague or his counterpart. I do not envy his position. I am only working to unleash truth about the July 15 trauma inflicted on our country, and I will continue to work on this.

Mr. Akar apparently only filed a lawsuit for our news regarding the testimony of the anonymous witness “Abdullah”. However, he also added over 60 other news pieces we published mentioning his name in the last year, instead of refuting them in due time. To me it shows who accumulated 'grudge, anger and animosity' against whom.

I think this case had an important effect on my second unjust and unlawful arrest in 10 years. 250 thousand TL is a very high amount for a journalist to pay. Therefore, I am asking this amount to be lowered.

In his speech at the "Traditional Journalism Competition" award ceremony on June 26, Akar said "Journalists should be brave, persistent and investigative." I tried to do my duty as a 'brave, persistent and investigative' journalist. Therefore, I firmly believe that my punishment will never be accepted in the conscience of the Turkish Nation.

While the court rejected the counter action filed by Müyesser Yıldız at the hearing held today, it partially accepted Hulusi Akar's compensation request. The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly believes that the decision should be reconsidered. Considering the already deteriorating freedom of press ranking of Turkey, we invite Turkish judiciary to put an end to weaponization of the law against journalists.

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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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