Turkey: Seda Has Been Acquitted. We Demand Justice For All Women Journalists
Location: Turkey
Date: May 15, 2019Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The Erzurum Regional court announced its verdict today: journalist Seda Taşkın is sentenced to 1 year 11 months 11 days in prison for “terrorist propaganda” — but her sentence is deferred.
The CFWIJ appreciates the court’s decision to softer sentence. The verdict for Seda Taşkın pleasant because she will not be jailed.
The Court also acquitted Seda Taşkın of the “aiding a terrorist organisation” charges.The journalist’s second appear hearing was heard at Erzurum Regional Court earlier today. She attended the hearing via video-conference from a court in Ankara.
Seda was appealing her sentence totalling 7.6 years — If the court had rejected her appeal, she would have been jailed and because her sentences are each less than five years, she would not have been able to apply to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Today, Seda walks free, surrounded by her friends and colleagues.Seda After the appeal but the mission is not over. Turkey is a challenging country to work in the field for women, the country’s reputation as a democracy is at stake, knowing that this year Turkey became the biggest jailer of women journalists around the world.
The CFWIJ is committed to following up on all ongoing and pending cases of women journalists facing imprisonment in Turkey.
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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.