Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: September 21, 2021

Available in: 🇹🇷  Türkçe

The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Sadiye Eser was held in Istanbul today. The court adjourned the case for the fifth time, demanding the missing elements be completed. The next hearing will be held on November 18, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the constant postponement of the trials. We consider these practices are aiming to intimidate journalists. We demand the Turkish authorities to manage the process fairly and give a verdict of the journalist’s acquittal immediately.

The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Sadiye Eser and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Sadık Topaloğlu was held today at the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court. The journalists were sued on the charge of "being a member of a terrorist organization". Sadiye and the journalists' lawyers Sercan Korkmaz and Mahmut Erol attended today's hearing. The witness Özgür Baran, who was planned to be brought to the court in the previous hearing, did not attend the trial today. The court ruled the missing elements be completed and adjourned the next hearing to November 18, 2021.

Today, the lawyer Mahmut Erol demanded a withdrawal of the witness testimony to be heard as he never appeared in court since the trial had started. Lawyer Sercan Korkmaz additionally requested journalists’ travel ban be lifted. The court decided to send an invitation to the addresses where the witness was present for the next hearing. The court also rejected the journalists’ request for the travel ban to be lifted. Journalists face a prison sentence of up to 15 years, if they are convicted. 

Speaking to CFWIJ, Sadiye said the court has sent notices to the addresses of the witness Özgür Baran, who was being testified since the hearings began, but the witness never appeared in any hearings. “This proves what the witness said were false statements. Taking this into account, a verdict of acquittal should be rendered. Our colleague was acquitted as a result of the inconsistent statements given by the same witness,” Sadiye told CFWIJ. “Authorities are aiming to intimidate journalists by the trials arranged against whoever works in the Kurdish media,” the journalist added. 

Sadiye Eser was detained after leaving the MA’s office on November 29, 2019, and was arrested on December 2, 2019, over a charge of being a member of an armed terrorist organization", but was released conditionally at the first hearing which was held on March 26, 2020.

In the indictment of the case, Sadiye Eser's travels abroad were cited as evidence, her resistance to inform the police about the password of her mobile phone which was seized by the police during her detention was accepted as "organizational behaviour". Also, Kurdish songs in the journalist's MP3 player were counted among the evidence in the indictment.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the court cases against women journalists in Turkey. Journalists are unfairly prosecuted on terrorism charges of their social media posts or the report they wrote. We reiterate that journalism is not a crime, and we demand the Turkish authorities to put an end to legal persecution to intimidate the journalists. Sadiye is a journalist. She should be acquitted from all baseless charges she faces immediately.

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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