Turkey: Next Hearing Of Journalist Sibel Hürtaş Tried With 10 Years Imprisonment Will Be Held In November
Location: Turkey, Ankara
Date: June 26, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The hearing of 11 people, including journalist Sibel Hürtaş and Hayri Demir and Human Rights Association Member Nuray Çevirmen, was held today. The next hearing was postponed to 25 November.
After the Afrin operation, on January 21, 2018, 11 people including Nuray Çevirmen, Journalist Sibel Hürtaş and Hayri Demir, were detained and a case was filed against them for their social media posts.
Artı TV Ankara Representative Sibel Hürtaş had an interview with former AKP Deputy Ahmet Faruk Ünsal and the deputy HDP Deputy Osman Baydemir on 23 January 2018 in the Special Broadcast concerning the Afrin Operations. Hürtaş, who shared the social media announcements of the news, was detained on January 24, 2018.
Journalist Sibel Hürtaş following her detention had said in a statement that the prosecutor's attitude was a major blow to the freedom of press and expression. "I will continue to work as a journalist within the framework of the professional ethics and ethics of the press," said Hürtaş.
Journalists Sibel Hürtaş and Hayri Demir and their Lawyer Nuray Özdoğan attended today's hearing at the Ankara 15th High Criminal Court. The head of the court stated that the Ministry of Justice has not yet submitted a request for prosecution permit requested under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Journalist Sibel Hürtaş reminded that in the first judicial package, a regulation stating "sharing of news and criticism do not constitute a crime" was added to the article concerning "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" under the Anti-Terror Law. Hürtaş, who asked the court to take this arrangement into account, said, “In the meantime, the second judicial package came out. Now the third judicial package will be released. However, your court has not yet implemented the first judicial package. Article 301 is not about me. For me, the file is getting superfluous.”
Stating that the case has been continuing since January 2018, Lawyer Nuray Özdoğan said, “The prolongation of the trial process and the request of charging from Article 301 of the Penal Code causes both violation of the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. A judicial control decision has been imposed on Demir and Hürtaş in the form of a travel ban for 2.5 years. Such a long ban is contrary to the principle of proportionality. In addition, their fundamental rights and freedoms were violated. For this reason, we want the ban on traveling abroad to be lifted. ”
The court board, announcing their decision,decided to wait for the reply of the warrant written to the Ministry of Justice and decided to reject the demands of journalists and lawyers. The court adjourned while the next hearing was postponed to 25 November.
The Coalition For Women in Journalism condemns the weaponization of law to terrorize journalism. We urge Turkish authorities to respect the freedom of the press.
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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.
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