Turkey: Sedef Kabaş's Trial Adjourned For The Sixth Time – Journalist Must Be Acquitted Immediately
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: July 9, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Sedef Kabaş and 38 people on charges of "damaging the economy" was postponed for the sixth time today, due to the judge’s leave. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) denounces the constant postponement of the trials against journalists. We urge Turkish authorities that journalism is not a crime, we demand Sedef Kabaş’s and other journalists’ acquittal immediately.
The sixth hearing of the trial against 38 people including journalists Sedef Kabaş, Merdan Yanardağ, Mustafa Sönmez and Bloomberg economy reporters Fercan Yalınkılıç, Kerim Karakaya on the allegation of "economic coup attempt" was postponed yet again due to the judge’s leave. The trial was expected to be held at the Istanbul 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance today. The next hearing will be scheduled on a further date.
On August 10, 2018, the news titled “Turkish bank crisis prompts emergency meeting on Saturday” by Fercan Yalınkılıç and Kerim Karakaya revealed in Bloomberg. The story was brought to the agenda that the Turkish lira depreciated against the dollar. After the news, the BDDK filed a lawsuit against the reporters who wrote the news and 38 people who shared it from their Twitter account. The indictment was prepared after BDDK's complaint accusing reporters of "undermining the stability of Turkey's economy". The news stated that after the rise in the dollar, banks did not meet their foreign exchange demands. It was declared that those who demand foreign currency can do so for the next business day, and the BRSA will hold an urgent meeting with the top executives of the banks at the weekend.
Six journalists, including Sedef Kabaş, face two to five years sentences in prison on charges of "violating the Capital Law". Also, judicial fines of up to five thousand days are demanded against journalists.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the continual postponement of trials against journalists on arbitrary excuses. We demand the Turkish authorities to respect the free press. The journalists must be immediately acquitted. 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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