Turkey: Imprisoned Women Journalists At Risk Amid Covid-19 Outbreak
Location: Turkey
Date: April 7, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
By Damla Tarhan
With over 27,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Turkey and more than 500 deaths recorded so far, fears for the safety of imprisoned journalists have increased in the past few weeks. Authorities in Turkey have long been notorious for their treatment of women journalists inside jails and as of now, four women journalists - Ayşenur Parıldak, Hanım Büşra Erdal, Hatice Duman, Hülya Kılınç - have been arbitrarily held for their journalism inside the country’s prisons.
These journalists are not only vulnerable to the authorities’ unjustified demeanor, but remain at a larger risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, given the not-so-satisfactory health facilities inside its prisons.
Instead of ensuring the safety and hygiene of its prisoners, Turkish authorities have instituted a clampdown on news regarding Covid-19. Many journalists, including women, have borne the brunt of being persecuted for their coronavirus coverage.
On March 16, Ebru Küçükaydın - a general publication coordinator of news website Haberimizvar.net - was taken into custody from her home in Antalya for publishing a story about the coronavirus. Even though she was released after her statement was recorded at a local police station, the news was subsequently taken down from the website. Read our statement here.
On March 31, an investigation was filed against writer and columnist Nurcan Baysal for "threatening to incite the public to enmity and hatred" because of her social media posts and two articles published on Ahval - a Turkish news website. While her post criticized the government’s action during Covid-19, the articles shed light on the lack of seriousness around the life-threatening pandemic that brought the world to a halt. Nurcan was finally released by the court after she testified in her defense.
Sadiye Eser, a Mezopotamya Agency reporter, was arrested for “being a member of a terrorist organization in December 2019, just like the four currently held journalists. She was released by a court in Istanbul on March 26, albeit with conditions of judicial control and adjourned the hearing of her case until October 15.
On March 17, the Turkish government postponed ongoing trials until April 30 because of the outbreak. These trials are expected to be further delayed if the situation around the pandemic worsens. Meanwhile, only prisoners’ trials can be held at the courthouses.
Even though many women journalists in Turkey have been released this year, four are still languishing inside jails in the midst of inadequate conditions. Several remain at a risk of being taken into custody for covering the coronavirus outbreak.
Not long ago, we released a statement condemning the inhumane conditions inflicted on the Mezopotamya Agency reporter Ruken Demir. She apparently wrote a letter to her brother wherein she mentioned being fed unhealthy and unhygienic food in the prison. Ruken was also not allowed to read books or newspapers, and was later banned from writing letters as well. After spending 115 days in the prison on charges for “carrying out activities on behalf of a terrorist organization”, she was finally released on March 6.
Following Ruken’s horrific account of treatment in Turkey’s jails, the thought of imprisoned women journalists being safe and healthy is simply wishful thinking. All the women journalists held inside Turkey’s jails are at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19. Most of these journalists are over 30 years of age and fall in the high-risk category. The prisons’ state of hygiene, heating system, conditions of the dining hall, and the infirmary equipment are just a few things that need to be inspected in order to ensure the safety and health of the prisoners.
Journalist Sadık Topaloğlu, who was recently released, also spoke about the state of journalists locked behind bars. He said how the conditions inside jails leave them vulnerable to health risks. Sadık shared his views in this video deeming the existing precautions inadequate to continue the fight against coronavirus.
CFWIJ got in touch with lawyer Ülkü Şahin who usually deals with cases involving journalists. When discussing the state of prisons during the ongoing pandemic, she pointed out that it is not fair to keep journalists behind bars.
“Journalists being imprisoned on charges of “membership of a terrorist organization” and “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation”, because of their articles, news stories, social media posts, speeches, and photographs, is simply unjustified - none of them are violent actions. However, the Turkish government equates these with many violent crimes such as crimes against sexual immunity and drugs in the enforcement package in the parliament. As such, it was once again confirmed that the government saw journalists who hold a pen more dangerous than criminals who hold a gun,” Ülkü said.
She added that in a possible legal arrangement, the criterion of violence should be considered and the government should secure justice.
“Following the current conditions of our prisons and the rapidly increasing potential of coronavirus, we should not only rally towards their freedom of thought, and right to freedom and security, but also their right to life. According to the regulations by the UN and the Council of Europe - of which Turkey is a member - the state has an obligation to provide security of individuals whose freedom is taken away. We urgently demand that all the journalists are released. Necessary measures for hygiene should be ensured. Journalists who are behind bars should also be allowed to stay at their homes too,” Ülkü shared when talking to CFWIJ.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands with all our fellow women journalists who have been jailed for their work as journalists in Turkey. During this global pandemic that has paralyzed the entire world, it is pertinent for Turkish authorities to release all the journalists and allow them to stay at their homes, to ensure their health and safety. The government must take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of this outbreak, especially inside jails and allow the press to cover the pandemic in a fair and transparent manner.
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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.