Turkey: Judicial Control Measures Overturned For Kibriye Evren, But Travel Ban Remains
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: March 10, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Judicial control measures imposed on Jin News reporter Kibriye Evren have been lifted by a court in Turkey. She was released from prison under judicial control measures and an international travel ban. While we are glad that the court has removed the former, we also urge them to reconsider the travel ban.
The decision of the court was announced during the ninth hearing of the case. She was accused of “being a member of the organization" and "making propaganda for an organization". Kibriye was taken into custody on October 11, 2018. The court ordered her conditional release on November 12, 2019 - after a year and one month had passed. You can read our full statement here.
Kibriye’s lawyers, Pirozhan Karali and Resul Tamur, were present during the hearing. However, she could not appear because of health issues. Kibriye had earlier undergone a stomach surgery and will be needing one mors operation for another health issue in the next few months.
While defending his client, Tamur said, “According to my client's medical reports submitted before the court, it is possible that she will have to undergo another surgery again in the next four months. Therefore, we request the next hearing to be held much later, so that our client can attend.”
The next hearing of Kibriye’s trial has been adjourned until July 14, 2020.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands that the Turkish judiciary lift the travel ban imposed on Kibriye. We urge them to reconsider their decision, so that she is free to travel and continue doing her work. It is crucial for women journalists to be able to work freely without any fear of being punished.
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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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.