Turkey: Jinnews Kurdish News Editor Roza Metina Released Conditionally
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: November 25, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Jinnews Kurdish editor and Kurdish Pen member Roza Metina, whose house was raided and detained as part of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) investigation last Friday, has been released conditionally. While the Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes Rosa’s release, we demand the authorities end their intimidation tactics against journalists.
Roza Metina was one of 75 people detained within the scope of the DTK investigation initiated by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. She was brought to the Diyarbakır Courthouse after the police proceedings. The journalist was released conditionally, following the prosecutor’s interrogation.
Speaking to The Coalition For Women In Journalism, Jinnews Editor and Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform spokesperson, Ayşe Güney, emphasized that the criminalization of journalism should be abandoned. She quoted “It is not a situation that our journalists in this region can accept, what has been done against us. Generally, none of the journalists could agree on these incidents, yet we will continue to do our job no matter what happens. We never undertake these oppressions. That is why we say journalism should not be considered a crime”.
The ongoing problem of legal harassment against journalists in Turkey has been raised before. Last year, journalist Ayşegül Doğan, host of “Gündem Müzakere” on the now shutdown IMC News channel, was charged with "establishing and leading an armed organization". These allegations followed her interview with “Democratic Society Congress” members.
In addition to that incident, Jinnews reporter Sehriban Abi and journalist Nazan Sala were detained during the raid at the Mesopotamia Agency’s Van office on October 6, 2020. Four days later, they were arrested for reporting on Kurdish villagers named Servet Turgut and Osman Siban, who were tortured and thrown from a national army helicopter. One of the victims of torture, Servet Turgut, died from his injuries on September 30. The journalists were tortured inhumanely, held in the male ward of the prison and faced deplorable conditions in prison.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is aware of the rising intimidation carried out in Turkey in recent years. We keep a close watch on these inequitable interventions with great concern. Legal harassment of journalists through the weaponization of the law should no longer be used by the Turkish authorities. The Turkish government and the public wish to join the European Union with a firm stance concerning fundamental rights. We demand the legal harassment against journalist Roza Metina come to an immediate end. ...
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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