Turkey: The Coalition For Women In Journalism Calls Upon Journalism Organizations And Human Rights Defenders To Stand With Ayşegül Doğan
Location: Turkey
Date: March 3, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
We the undersigned; demand that the charges against Ayşegül Doğan, who is an impartial and fact-based journalist whose only hope is to live in a more democratic and civilized country be dropped.
Turkish public is going through years where "quality journalism" is of utmost importance. We are utterly concerned that yet again another journalist who performs her duties in the best sense despite all threats and pressure, is facing “punishment”. It is unacceptable that Ayşegül Doğan is accused of "being a member of an armed organization" due to her broadcasts on İMC TV and the interviews she made with people who contributed to the solution process that would help to bring peace between Kurdish and Turkish citizens of Turkey.
Ayşegül is a brilliant foreign policy expert who studied abroad with a scholarship. The indictment against journalist Ayşegül Doğan was completed by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on May 23, 2018.
The indictment claimed that Democratic Society Congress (DTK) “Was the 3rd leg of Abdullah Öcalan’s four-leg-paradigm and functioned as a so-called founding parliament” (Ayşegül had conducted interviews with DTK members). It was claimed that DTK “was founded by the orders of Abdullah Öcalan (founder of outlawed armed organisation PKK), to realise the strategy of democratic autonomy.” Notes she took regarding the interviews she made with Öcalan’s attorneys were added to the indictment as evidence of accusations against her.
On October 7, 2020, the prosecutor gave his opinion on the case where journalist Ayşegül Doğan was tried for "establishing an armed organization" based on the interviews she conducted and meetings she attended within the scope of her journalistic activities. The prosecutor demanded that Doğan be sentenced to 7.5 to 15 years in prison for the crime of "being a member of an armed organization", claiming that Doğan was active in DTK (Democratic Society Congress, claimed to be affiliated with PKK though it has been established according to laws and in the past many members of the current government and even members of intelligence agency attended their meetings discussing the “peace process”). The court adjourned the hearing to December 7, 2020, in order to receive defense statements.
The lawyers of the journalist declared that the evidence against Ayşegül was illegally obtained and it did not prove her affiliation to an armed terrorist organization. They also included that the illegal tape recordings shown as evidence did not belong to Ayşegül Doğan, as mentioned in the report prepared by the Forensic Medicine Institute.
However, the court rejected the request that the tapes of Ayşegül Doğan be demanded from the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office "as it would not add anything new to the case." Giving the attorneys time to present their defense statements, the court adjourned the hearing to December 7, 2020.
The adjourned trial against journalist Ayşegül Doğan was held on December 7. She was sentenced to six years and three months in prison charges of establishing or leading an armed terrorist organization. Doğan's lawyers attended the hearing as her defense. Ayşegül tried to excuse herself from the trial, claiming to be in quarantine after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. The court rejected her excuse, citing the necessary conclusion of the case in a reasonable time and continued the proceedings without the journalist present. Ayşegül’s participation in DTK meetings was deemed as clear and condemning evidence for the guilty verdict. The lawyers of the journalist declared that the evidence against Ayşegül was illegally obtained and it did not prove her affiliation to an armed terrorist organization. The journalist’s lawyers demanded her acquittal.
After announcing its verdict, the court sentenced journalist Ayşegül Doğan to six years and three months in prison for being a member of an armed terrorist organization. The court also stated that a travel ban will be imposed on the journalist until the conviction is finalized.
During an interview Ayşegül Doğan gave to Bianet in 2017 she had underlined that she was pursuing “peace journalism” and stated that pressure on the media has a negative effect on democratic processes in Turkey. “If you do not conduct journalism the way those in power want you to, so if you do not distort the truth, if you are not among those who take part in defamation and inciting hatred between people; you either land jobless, end up self-censoring or find yourself jailed or in exile due to the pressure and attacks and threats” stated Ayşegül Doğan exposing the bitter truth in the country. Today, Ayşegül Doğan has become the target of the government due to her journalism, which touches on social issues such as the struggle for peace, women's struggle and labor.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands with Ayşegül and her fair reporting. Legal harassment of journalists through weaponization of the law should no longer be used by the Turkish authorities and fundamental rights as prescribed by the European Convention of Human Rights should be respected. We demand that the charges against Ayşegül Doğan are immediately dropped and call upon international organizations to stand in solidarity with her. Her imprisonment would result in further stifling of press freedoms in Turkey causing a deep wound in the country’s democracy.
About Ayşegül Doğan
Although from Cizre, she was born in Ankara in 1977. After her primary and secondary education she went abroad for undergraduate studies.
Between 1995-2000, she attended Metz University Faculty of Communication and Paris School of Journalism. In 1999, she did an internship at Ankara office of the Agence France Presse and at Courrier International newspaper in Paris. Between 1999-2001, she worked as a lecturer in the Department of Kurdish Language and Literature at Paris National Institute of Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Between 2002-2003, she worked as a translator and journalist at Le Monde Diplomatique Turkish.
She also worked as an organizer, translator, communications and political consultant and took part in the production of many documentaries, organization of international workshops and conferences.
From 2011 until October 2016, she produced and presented the Gündem Müzakere program featuring current news at IMC TV. She also acted as the IMC TV Programs Coordinator until the channel was shut down by a Decree Law in October 2016.
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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
Signatories:
The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)
Zeynep Gürcan (Lawyer, Researcher at CFWIJ)
Damla Tarhan (Turkey and MENA Coordinator, CFWIJ)
Ceren İskit (Research Coordinator, CFWIJ)
ZahidunNisa (Research Coordinator, CFWIJ)
Ayesha Khalid, (Researcher, CFWIJ)
Nur Sürer (Oyuncu)
Gözde Çağrı Özköse (Mezopotamya Agency)
Afia Salam (Freelance Journalist)
İdil Ergüç (Content Coordinator at CFWIJ)
Zivile Diminskyte (Engagement Coordinator at CFWIJ)
Katarzyna Mierzejewska (Engagement Coordinator at CFWIJ)
Craig Shaw (Investigations, theblacksea.eu)
Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir (Member of Turkish parliament)
Zeynep Sentek (Editor, theblacksea.eu)
Barbara Ciolli (Freelance, CFWIJ)
Seran Vreskala (Freelance Journalist)
Amberin Zaman (Al-Monitor)
Ayla Albayrak (Freelance Journalist)
Nevşin Mengü (Freelance Journalist)
Gülfem Karataş (TGS)
Evrim Kepenek (Journalist at Bianet)
Saime Toktaş (Freelance Journalist)
Tuğba Baykal (Freelance Journalist)
Steve Sweeney (The Morning Star)
Faruk Eren (Disk Basın İş Genel Başkanı)
Gülseren Onanç (Equality, Justice, Woman Platform)
Ayşen Şahin (Evrensel)
Zeynep Erdim (Journalist)
Ayesha Khalid (Journalist)
Saba Sabir (Broadcast journalist)
Renan Akyavaş (IPI Press Freedom Officer)
Nida Dinçtürk (Journalist)
Nebiye Arı (Freelance Journalist)
Jinda Zekioğlu (Freelance Journalist)
İsa Uğur Erdoğan (Artı Gerçek)
Zeliha Doğan (Freelance, Screenwriter)
Dilek Gül (Journalist)
İdris Yayla (Jiyanhaber)
Ayşe Çebi (Freelance Journalist)
Altan Sancar (Artı TV)
Ceren Bayar (Freelance Journalist)
Berxwadan Yaruk (Pen Sweden)
Renas Anık (Political Scientist, Bilgi University)
Dicle Doğan (Interior Designer)
Fevzi Saygılı (Lawyer, Unionist)
İsmail Karaboğa (Programmer)
Atila Çelik (Graphic Designer)
Deniz Tunç (LGBTI News Turkey)
Mehveş Evin (Freelance)
Banu Tuna (TGS)
Beyza Zeyno Bayramoğlu (Politician)
Kumru Başer (Birikim)
Melda Onur (Freelance, Former Member of Parliament for CHP)
Burcu Karakaş (DW Turkish)
Şehnaz Kıymaz (Women’s Major Group Coordinator)
Mehmet Sanrı (Freelance)
Ayşegül Başar (Artı Gerçek)
Tuncay Birkan (Freelance translator and editor)
Neşe Koçak (Medical Doctor)
Akın Olgun (Freelance)
Zeynep Ceren Boztoprak (Lawyer, Board member of IHD-Human Rights Association)
Prof. H. Neşe Özgen (Duke University Cultural Anthropology Department)
Nuray Çevirmen Akyol (Executive Board Member of IHD)
Haluk Ünal (Film Director)
Necla Şengül (Executive Board Member of IHD)
Berivan Kaya Arı (Teacher)
Zerrin Kurtoğlu (Academician)
Merve Erol (Express Magazine)
İsmail Boyraz (Teacher, Executive Board Member of IHD)
Suna Aras (Author)
Defne Sarıöz (Yeşil Gazete)
Eren Keskin (Lawyer, Co-chair IHD)
Selçuk Binici (Lawyer)
Rabia Çetin (Freelance)
Zeliha Karadal (Lawyer)
Ceren Şibka (Medical Doctor)
Rober Koptaş (Publisher)
Mithat Solmaz (Cartoon Artist)
Serpil Kemalbay (Member of Parliament for HDP)
Leyla Güven (Member of Parliament for HDP - DTK co-chair)
Ulaş Y. Tosun (Freelance)
Sultan Eylem Keleş (Artı TV)
Ozan Görgü (Social Worker)
Hatice Kalpaklı (Executive Board Member of IHD)
Sezgin Kartal (Karşı Mahalle)
Pınar Öğünç (Duvar)
Irfan Aktan (Express Magazine)
Tim Smith (Freelance)
Fehim Işık (Journalist)
Aydın Bolkan (Journalist)
Mehmet Ali Eren (Journalist)
Prof. Dr. Halil Yenigün (Stanford University History Department)
Ayhan Keskin (Accountant)
Cem Bahtiyar (Freelance)
Günay Aslan (Journalist)
Leyla Güven (Member of Parliament for HDP)
Nevzat Mert (Freelance)
Doğan Özkan (Writer)
Metin Karakol (Children’s Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center)
Tevfik Kaçar (Teacher)
Hüseyin Okur (Biologist)
Güneş Dağ (Teacher)
Çetin Yılmaz (Freelance)
İrfan Aktan (Journalist at Express and Gazete Duvar)
Ruken Babayiğit (City Planner)
Prof. Dr. Çetin Gürer (Centre for Work and Politics at University of Bremen)
Gökhan Demir (Sales Manager)
Ekin Kalender Kocabaşoğlu (Luna Turism)
Yunus Emre Doğan (Graphic Designer)
Ulaş Eren (Engineer)
Deniz Doğan (Producer, Designer)
Cem Güngör (Economist)
İhsan Şimşek (Textile Exporter)
Serkan Işık (Teacher)
Rezan Barcin (Social Worker)
Berna Demirkıran (Archeologist)
Zeliha Kara (FAGE Deutschland)
Deniz Doğan (Film Producer)
Arzu Yıldırım (Photographer)
Nazmi Tümerdem (Doctor)
Mustafa Süzen (Journalist at IFJ Global)
Mustafa Gürses (Freelance Engineer)
Sabit Aktaş (Lawyer)
Sema Thompson (Interpreter)
Sevda Karaca (Journalist at Evrensel)
Handan Nakiboğlu (Engineer)
Serpil İnanç (Actress)
Suna Aras (Poet, Writer)
Dr. Kadir Yıldırım (Institute of Turkish at University Duisburg Essen)
Sevil Çakır (Academician)
Mustafa Şahin (Translator)
Fırat Tulper (Economist)
Ayşe Hür (Journalist, Writer, Historian)
Orhan Kayan (Worker)
Zeki İrmez (Member of Parliament for HDP)
Hayrettin Pişkin (Accountant)
Sakine Topoğlu (Journalist)
Hisen Kofi (Teacher)
Zeynep Kuray (Birgün, Fırat News Agency)
Mehmet Sıddık Damar (Journalist)
Serpil Hancı (Nurse)
Halil Tatat (Accountant)
Şaban Tüysüz (Freelance Journalist, Editor)
Haden Öz (Writer)
Cengiz Odabaşı (Political Advisor)
Akif Genç (Chef)
Vivet Kanetti (Writer)
Cihat Emir Aykaç (Journalist)
Ekin Yeter (Lawyer)
Hüsnü Öndül (Lawyer, İHD Human Rights Academy Head)
Murat Büyükyılmaz (Journalist, Academician)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuna Altınel (Academician, Lyon University I)
Zeki Kanuay (Veterinary Surgeon)
Volkan Atilla Yolcu (Teacher)
Deniz Boyracı (Journalist)
Turgut Dedeoğlu (Journalist, Artı TV)
Cüneyt Marhan (Freelance Journalist)
Muharrem Eviz (Worker)
Mustafa Akosman (Publisher)
Şahin Artan (Bianet)
Levent Köker (Retired Academician)
Prof. Dr. Cengiz Aktar (Journalist, Writer, Academician)
Sidenur Töre (Musician)
Hayri Demir (Freelance)
Armağan Kargılı (Journalist, Artı Gerçek)
Emin Hocaoğlu (Freelancer)
Şaban Alınak (Sociologist)
Didem Demir (Project Manager)
Sabiha Temizkan (Freelance Journalist)
Şule Albayrakoğlu (Retired Economist)
Hülya Uğur Tanrıöver (Feminist Activist)
Mehmet İlkhan (Geneva Kurdish Human Rights Center Representative)
Güldenay Sonumut (Freelance)
Banu Güven (Freelance)
Pınar Ömeroğlu (Engineer)
Emrah Canan (Lawyer)
Oya Özarslan (Lawyer)
Özkan Orman (Artist)
Prof. Dr. Mesut Yeğen (Istanbul Sehir University Department of Sociology)
Beril Eski (Freelance journalist)
Sibel Yaylagül (Freelancer)
Gülderen Koç (Retired)
Bahtiyar Mermertaş (Mimar Sinan University Department of Sociology)
Ümit Kıvanç (Documentary filmmaker-Journalist)
Nihayet Düzel (Peace activist)
Güler Yıldız (Freelance journalist)
Serpil Yahyaoğlu (Frankfurt Migrant Women’s Center)
Hicri İzgören (Writer)
Mustafa Elveren (Retired Teacher)
Ahmet Sezer (Public Servant)
Murat Yağcıbulut (Freelancer)
Eyüp Burç (Journalist-YenidenTV)
Aynur Çimen (Freelancer)
Menaf Özdil (Sociologist)
Ayşe S. Kırıkoğlu (Retired Economist)
Suzan Samancı (Writer)
Şanar Yurdatapan (Writer, Composer, Spokesperson of IFEX Turkey)
Hüseyin Turan (Accountant)
Prof. Dr. Vedat Demir (Academician of Journalism)
Elif Doğan (Blogger)
Cihan Güney (Web Designer)
Nimet Tanrıkulu (Feminist Peace Activist-Barış İçin Kadın Girişimi)
Erdoğan Yalgın (Researcher, writer, freelance journalist)
Merve Demir (Operations specialist)
Habibe Eren (Journalist-JinNews)
Ekmek ve Gül Magazine
Hilal Tok (Editor at Evrensel Newspaper)
İsmet Süzer (Teacher)
Arzu Efeoğlu (Freelancer/Producer)
Mahmut Paksoy (Retired)
Ayla Jean Yackley (Freelance journalist)
Sakine Bozat (Teacher)
Hakan Altun (Theater Director)
Rahime İldemir Bayrak (Peace Activist)
Nuroj Eren Parlak (Peace Activist)
Asya Ülker (Politician)
Doğan Doğan (Political Activist, Human Rights Defender)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şener (Academician)
Imrana Komal (Journalist)
Gülay Boylu (Temple Group Hotels)
Ender İmrek (Author, Journalist)
Hilal Tok (Editor)
Mehmet Sıddık Damar (Journalist)
Emrah Ebik
Serpil Hancı (Nurse)
Halil Tatat (Accountant)
Hale Kulacaoglu (Retired)
Şaban Tüysüz (Freelance Journalist)
Haden Öz (Writer)
Asiye Tekin
H. Cengiz Odabasi (Political Adviser)
Vivet Kanetti (Writer)
Cihat Emir Aykaç (Journalist)
Mustafa Demir (Retired)
Ekin Yeter (Lawyer)
Hüsnü Öndül (Lawyer, İHD President of the Human Rights Academy)
Hasan Saribas (Retired)
Murat Büyükyılmaz (Journalist, Academician)
Tuna Altınel (Academician)
Nergis Perçinel (Retired)
Volkan Atilla Yolcu (Teacher)
Deniz Boyraci (Journalist)
İsmail Alpan (Retired)
Turgut Dedeoğlu (Journalist)
Kasım Baytok (Constructor)
Cüneyt Marhan (Freelance Journalist)
Muharrem Eviz (Craft)
Leyla Güven (Politician)
Mustafa Akosman (Publisher)
Fatma İrier (Retired)
Sahin Artan (Journalist)
Levent Köker (Retired Academican)
Cengiz Aktar (Professor)
Sidenur Tore (Musician)
Hayri Demir (Freelancer)
Armağan Kargılı (Journalist)
Sibel Deniz Yaylagül
Gülderen Koç (Retired)
Emin Hocaoglu (Freelancer)
Didem Demir (Project Management)
Sabiha Temizkan (Journalist)
Şule Albayrakoğlu (Retired economist)
Hülya Uğur Tanrıöver (Feminist activist)
Ayten Gümüşel (Retired)
Mehmet İlkhan (Employer in an NGO)
Pinar Omeroglu (Engineer)
Suat Özalp (Pollster)
Emrah Canan (Lawyer)
Oya Özarslan (Lawyer)
Fırat Altıntaş (Student)
Özkan Orman (Artist)
Mesut Yegen (Academician)
Bahtiyar Mermertaş (PhD Student)
Ümit Kivanç (Documentary filmmaker, journalist)
Nihayet Düzel (Worker)
Güler Yıldız (Journalist)
Hicri İzgören (Author)
Mustafa Elveren (Retired teacher)
Çiğdem Ergen (Retired)
Ahmet Sezer (Officer)
Eyüp Burç (Journalist)
Sümer Çekdar (Laborer)
Güney Şirin (Worker)
Aynur Çimen (Freelancer)
Ayse S. Kirikoglu (Retired economist)
Suzan Samancı (Author)
Şanar Yurdatapan (Composer)
Hüseyin Turan (Accountant)
Vedat Demir (Academician)
Elif Dogan (Blogger)
Cihan Güney (Web designer)
Nimet Tanrıkulu (Barış İçin Kadın Girişimi)
Erdoğan Yalgın (Journalist, Author)
Merve Demir
Habibe Eren (Journalist)
Eyüp Burç (Journalist)
Ekmek ve Gül (Magazine)
İsmet Süzer (Teacher)
Mahmut Paksoy (Retired)
Sakine Bozat (Teacher)
Hakan Altun (Theatre Director)
Talip Alioğlu (Teacher)
Ebru Yulalar (Student)
Yunus Sibebi (Journalist)
Nuroj Eren Parlak
Aligül Geyik (Freelancer)
Dogan Dogan (Political Activist, Human Rights Defender)
Mustafa Şener (Academician)
Derya Doylu
Ender İmrek (Journalist, Author)
Yahya Alen (Retired)
Sait Aydin (Librarian)
Rebecca Rosenfeld (US Attorney)
Gaia Caramazza (Journalist)
Zişan Kürüm Yılmaz (Teacher)
Sehnaz Kiymaz Bahceci (Officer at an NGO)
Daniel Fleury (Journalist at Kedistan Magasine)
Serhat Yüksel (Software engineer)
Fidan Eroğlu (Retired)
Esin Ertan (Freelancer)
Arın Gül Yeniaras (Lawyer)
Özlem Kahraman
Galip Deniz Altınay (Worker)
Oya Özgüven (Human rights defender)
Onur Sesigür (Academician)
Mehmet Anıl (Correspondent)
Sedat Yağcıoğlu (Physiologist)
Ali Cafer Çelik (Retired)
Serdar Denktaş (Engineer)
Süleyman Demirtaş (Engineer)
Tuba Çameli (Journalist at Express Magazine and 1+1 Forum)
Cassandra Tuba (Freelance journalist, art4rights initiative)
Ali Engin Yurtsever (Freelancer)
Pınar Bekdemir (Doktor)
Mehmet Bozgeyik (Teacher)
Sare Feyza Alaybeyi (Engineer)
Gül Yılmaz (Proofreader)
Raimo Kangasniemi (Retired)
Şükran Bekar
M.Nadir Kaya (Retired)
Ferda Önen (Civil society expert)
Fazıl Hüsnü Erdem (Academician)
Ceren C. Gundogan (Scenarist)
Vedat Yilmaz (Environmental engineer)
Bertan Ayduk (Freelance Journalist)
Tim Smith (Photojournalist)
Nezahat Gündoğan (Film and Documentary Director)
Ali Ekber Pekşen (Retired)
Gülnur Yılmaz (Lawyer)
Merve Karabulut (Psychologist)
Sara Haro (Student)
Sule Aytac (Sociologist)
Kazim Orak (Academician)
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.