Turkey: No Relief For Journalist Sadiye Eser As Court Adjourns Hearing Of Bogus Terror Case Against Her Till Next Year
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: November 18, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The sixth hearing of the trial against journalist Sadiye Eser was held in Istanbul today. The court adjourned the case for the sixth time, demanding the witness absent at previous hearings summoned again. The judicial controls on Sadiye continue. The next hearing will be held on January 11, 2022. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the prolonged trials which curb press freedom. We consider these tactics are aiming to intimidate journalists. We demand the Turkish authorities to give a verdict of the journalist’s acquittal immediately.
The sixth hearing of the trial against journalist Sadiye Eser and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Sadık Topaloğlu was held today at the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court. The journalists were sued on the charge of "being a member of a terrorist organization". The witness Özgür Baran, who was planning to be brought to the court in the previous hearing, did not attend the trial again. The court ruled to bring the witness forcibly next time and did not lift the judicial controls on Sadiye. Journalists face a prison sentence of up to 15 years if they are convicted.
Sadiye was detained after leaving the MA’s office on November 29, 2019, and was arrested on December 2, 2019, over a charge of being a member of an armed terrorist organization". She was released conditionally after four months at the first hearing which was held on March 26, 2020.
In the indictment of the case, Sadiye’s travels abroad were cited as evidence, her resistance to inform the police about the password of her mobile phone which was seized by the police during her detention was accepted as "organizational behavior". Also, Kurdish songs in the journalist's MP3 player were counted among the evidence in the indictment.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the lawsuits filed against women journalists in Turkey. Journalists are unfairly prosecuted on bogus terrorism charges based on their social media posts or the news they write. Cases are constantly postponed by using various excuses against journalists. These tactics are used by the state aiming to intimidate journalists. As the coalition, we reiterate that journalism is not a crime, and demand an immediate acquittal of Sadiye Eser from the Turkish authorities.
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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