Turkey: 'redhack' Trial Against Journalist Derya Okatan Postponed For The Twelfth Time – Journalists Must Be Acquitted Immediately
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: July 9, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The 12th hearing of the trial against six journalists, including Derya Okatan, who reported on emails allegedly belonging to former minister Berat Albayrak, was held today in Istanbul. The court adjourned the next hearing to December 9, 2021, accepting the prosecutor's request for the extension of the case file and ruling on the continuation of the journalists' travel ban. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) demands an immediate acquittal of the journalists that have been unjustly postponing for many years. Journalism is not a crime.
The 12th hearing of the trial of six journalists, including Derya Okatan, known as the 'Redhack case', was held today at the Istanbul 29th High Criminal Court. The court ruled to continue the judicial control of journalists and accepted the request of the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office to expand the case file. The next hearing will be held on December 9, 2021.
Journalists Derya Okatan, Mahir Kanaat, Tunca Öğreten, Ömer Çelik, Metin Yoksu and Eray Sargın are facing charges of blocking, disrupting, destroying or changing data; spreading terrorist propaganda; being affiliated with a terrorist organization, and acting on behalf of a terrorist organization. If convicted, Derya will be sentenced to up to 11 years in prison. The journalists are on trial for their coverage of emails revealed by ‘Redhack’ allegedly belonging to former minister Berat Albayrak.
Journalists Tunca Öğreten, Derya Okatan and their lawyers Tuba Torun, Sercan Korkmaz, Ezgi Önalan and Dilara Alpan attended the hearing today. Earlier, the prosecutor requested that the case file be expanded. Today, lawyer Torun stated that they did not accept the request for the extension. She also demanded the lifting of the travel ban on journalist Tunca öğren. However, the court ruled for the continuation of the judicial control requirement for journalists and adjourned the trial until December 9, 2021.
Previously, the demands of journalists and lawyers to lift the travel ban abroad and their judicial control were rejected by the court.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism considers the long-delayed trials are a new tactic followed to intimidate journalists. We demand the Turkish authorities end their unfair practices against journalists and immediately acquit them. We reiterate once again that 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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