Turkey: Travel Ban To Abroad Measures Against Journalist Kibriye Evren Was Not Lifted Again
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: November 11, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The 14th hearing of the trial against journalist Kibriye Evren over her journalistic activities was held today in Diyarbakır. The journalist was sued over allegations of being a member of a terrorist organization and spreading its propaganda. The court rejected the lifting travel ban of Kibriye and adjourned the hearing again. The next hearing will be on February 22, 2022. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) considers these lawsuits are attacks on press freedom. We demand the immediate lifting of judicial control measures against journalist Kibriye Evren and the acquittal of the journalist.
The 14th hearing of the trial against Jin News reporter Kibriye Evren for her journalistic activities and social media posts was held at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court today. The court adjourned the hearing to February 22, 2022, by deciding to write a letter again for the approval of Mersin 2nd High Criminal Court to be merged with the file opened in Mersin against the journalist. Lifting the judicial control measures against the journalist was again denied.
Today, journalist’s lawyer Resul Temur reminded that Kibriye continues doing her job and demanded the travel ban going abroad be lifted. Also, attorney Pirozhan Karalı requested the missing elements of the case be eliminated.
The prosecution, on the other hand, stated there was nothing to add in the case file and demanded the same request as the attorney Pirozhan did.
The court ruled to write a letter to ask the court's consent to merge Evren's file, which is heard at Mersin 2nd High Criminal Court, with this case. The next hearing was adjourned until February 22, 2022.
Kibriye Evren is facing up to 20 years sentence in prison over the charges of being a member of a terrorist organization and spreading terrorist propaganda due to her social media posts, traveling abroad, and confidential witness statements. The journalist was arrested in Diyarbakır on October 9, 2018, and was released at the eighth hearing of the case filed against her. At the journalist's hearing on March 10, 2020, the judicial control requirement was lifted, but her travel ban remained.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the continuous persecution of journalists for their work. We believe these are attempts at intimidating journalists into silence and encroaching on the freedom of the press. We demand environments conducive for journalism where journalists can report freely without being threatened by legal harassment. We reiterate that once again journalism is not a crime.
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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.
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