Turkey: Journalist Zelal Tunç Sentenced In Prison Again With The Re-Opened SLAPP Case
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: May 31, 2022Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
In the lawsuit brought by Harun Yücel, the trustee appointed to Muradiye Municipality for the news report covered by Jin News reporter Zelal Tunç, on the charge of "insulting" reopened with the objection of journalist’s counsel. However, the journalist was sentenced to eight months and 22 days in prison again in the first hearing. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the court’s decision. Journalism is not a crime.
JinNews reporter Zelal Tunç was sued for allegedly insulting Harun Yücel, the trustee appointed to Muradiye Municipality, and was sentenced to eight months and 22 days in prison on August 13, 2021. The trustee filed a lawsuit against the journalist alleging that Zelal had "insulted" him. The report that the journalist covered in 2019 was about the 4 million 500 thousand TL which was given to the companies for the landscaping and recreation work of the municipality and that the companies disappeared before completing the project.
After the coverage, the trustee filed a complaint against Zelal with the allegation of "disinformation", and the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office accepted the case against the journalist. In writing upon the parties' declaration, the court sentenced the journalist to eight months and 22 days in prison and ruled adjournment of the verdict. The journalist’s statement was not taken before the verdict, due to the court's decision of the “simplified procedure” at the first hearing. Accordingly, the case was held without trial, defense statements were heard in writing and the verdict was notified to the accused in writing. This procedure was applied for the first time in a lawsuit filed against a journalist.
Zelal’s lawyer, Ebru Demirtepe, appealed the court’s decision and the case reopened again at Muradiye’s Criminal Court of First Instance. However, the court repeated its decision in the absence of the defendant again and convicted the journalist to eight months and 22 days in prison.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the legal harassment of journalists solely for doing their job. Zelal Tunç set an example of good journalism by bringing the responsibilities of her profession but was punished in return. The decision is an attack on the free press and freedom of expression and it is unacceptable. We reiterate that journalism is not a crime.
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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.