Turkey: Journalists Continue To Be Intimidated Through The Judiciary – Sema Karakurt And Eylem Sonbahar Must Be Acquitted Immediately
Location: Turkey, Antalya
Date: June 18, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Journalists Dilek Gül and Gülşah İnce, who were covering wildfires in Turkey, faced an accreditation barrier by the security forces. The decision came out from the higher authorities as the reason given for the journalists. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns this attempt to silence the press. Journalists should be able to do their job under any conditions without discrimination.
The 12th hearing of the trial against journalists Sema Karakurt and Eylem Sonbahar was held at the Antalya 25th Criminal Court of First Instance. The journalists were tried among 17 people on charges of "resisting against public duty" and "insulting". Sema and Eylem are facing charges following the protests against the G20 Summit held in Antalya on 15-16 November 2015. The court postponed the next hearing to December 17, 2021, to eliminate the deficiencies in the case file.
The journalists and their lawyer Zelal Pelin Doğan were present at the hearing. Journalists repeated their previous defences due to the change of the court board in the case.
According to MLSA, lawyer Doğan requested the court to separate the files of the journalists, requesting that it be merged with another lawsuit filed in 2018 regarding the same incident and pending at the Antalya 7th Criminal Court of First Instance. The judge ordered the Antalya 7th Criminal Court of First Instance his request regarding the consolidation of the two case files.
Speaking to the CFWIJ regarding the lawsuit against journalists, lawyer Zelal Pelin Doğan emphasized that the case has been ongoing since 2016 and it has been dragged on many times due to the change of court board and the postponed testimonies of defendants.
Lawyer Doğan said, “The main idea of the journalists was to follow and cover the demonstrations against the G20 summit in Antalya.” “Despite this, it has been allegedly said that the journalists resisted the security forces to not let them do their duties. However, the freedom of expression and free press does not prevent journalists from reporting in such cases, but rather, these activities are encouraged.” she followed.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism continues to track and document the ongoing trials of five separate women journalists in June alone. As the coalition, we closely monitor legal harassment in Turkey and with great concern. We condemn the lawsuits brought against journalists on unfounded accusations based on their journalistic activities and social media posts. Journalists should continue their profession in free and safe environments. We demand the immediate acquittal of journalists Sema and Eylem from the Turkish authorities. Journalism is not a crime.
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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