Turkiye: Trial Against Journalist Sultan Eylem Keleş Postponed to January 2024
Eylem was detained in 2020, and charged with “preventing” and “insulting” police in 2022
Location: Turkey, İstanbul
Date: February 1, 2022Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe***Updated on September 19, 2023.
The second hearing for journalist Sultan Eylem Keleş’s trial took place on September 19, 2023. In 2020, she was arrested for filming a police intervention of a protest. Two years later, Keleş was charged with "insulting a public official" and "resisting to prevent the performance of duty.” The court postponed the trial until January 25, 2024. The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces police intimidation and legal harassment of journalists. We demand that Keleş’s case be dropped immediately.
Tele1 reporter Sultan Eylem Keleş was reporting as police intervened in a protest organized by private company BIMEKS workers in İstanbul on September 17, 2020, when she was briefly detained.
In February 2022, two years after the incident, police filed charges against Keleş for "resisting, preventing, and insulting public officials on duty" in relation to the incident.
Four years later, in May 2023, the first hearing of her trial took place. Police officers attending the trial were removed by the judge. During the second hearing of her trial in September 2023, police interest in the case was evident yet again, with two plainclothes police officers attending the trial. An official from the United States Consulate was also observing proceedings.
The court accepted Keleş’ lawyer’s request to postpone the trial in order for the prosecutor to address missing information. A new trial date is set for January 2024.
Keleş has frequently encountered difficulties with police while reporting. In August 2022, the reporter was physically assaulted by police while covering violent evictions in Beykoz district, Istanbul. Video footage of the incident shows protestors and journalists being chased and harassed by police.
Many journalists in Turkiye are subjected to police violence while they report in the field, reporters are often harassed, obstructed, and arbitrarily detained. In 2021, CFWIJ documented at least 21 women journalists who were arrested while doing their job.
In a similar case, former Artı TV reporter Sibel Gürtaş. Sibel was charged for following the bar associations’ protest about a new draft law. On July 3, 2020, the journalist was impeded and beaten by police. Despite Sibel lodging a criminal complaint against the police forces, who physically assaulted her, the court dismissed the complaint. Additionally, four police officers filed a complaint against the journalist alleging her actions "prevented public duty". If convicted, Sibel may face three years in prison.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the police charges filed against journalist Sultan Eylem Keleş. We consider this a legal case initiated to intimidate and silence the journalist. The fundamental duty of police is to ensure the safety of all citizens, including journalists. Attacking journalists and hindering their duties is unacceptable. We remind Turkish authorities that journalism is a public duty and demand the dismissal of the case brought against the journalist.
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.
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