Turkey: Trial Of Journalists Eylem Sonbahar, Sema Karakurt Based On Coverage Of Anti-Imperialists Protests at 2015 G20 Summit Drags On
Location: Turkey, Antalya
Date: December 7, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The 13th hearing of the case against journalists Eylem Sonbahar and Sema Karakurt, on charges of “obstructing public duty” and “insulting” public officials at anti-G20 protests in 2015, was held on Tuesday. The Antalya 25th Criminal Court of First Instance adjourned the hearing as the two journalists and 15 other defendants were not present at the hearing. The trial has dragged on for nearly six years due to repeated changes in the committee of judges hearing the case, among other delays.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) reiterates that journalism is not a crime. The practice of prosecuting journalists on bogus charges to prevent them from doing their jobs must end. We urge the Turkish authorities to drop all unfounded charges against Eylem and Sema and end legal harassment of journalists.
Eylem and Sema have been charged in connection with their coverage of the anti-G20 protests at the 2015 summit. The police arrested several peaceful protestors denouncing interventions in the Middle East by the United States and China’s treatment of Uyghurs, among other imperialist and pro-war policies. The journalists face trial along with 15 other defendants charged with obstruction of public duty and insulting officials.
The last hearing on June 18 was adjourned as the court sought missing elements of the case. Zelal Pelin Doğan, a lawyer at the Media and Legal Studies Association (MLSA), which is representing the journalists, told CFWIJ that the case had been ongoing since 2016. It has met several delays due to changes in the court committee, said Doğan. The lawyer added that the defendants had to repeat their statements before the court each time because of the repeated changes in judges.
“It has been alleged that the journalists resisted the security forces and prevented them from doing their job. But to prevent journalists from reporting such events is obstruction of press freedom and freedom of expression,” said the lawyer, adding that such reportage is encouraged under a free press.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism has followed at least 94 cases of legal harassment of women journalists in this year alone. We condemn the charges imposed on Eylem Sonbahar and Sema Karakurt for merely doing their jobs and call for their immediate acquittal. The practice of engaging journalists in frivolous lawsuits to deter them from reporting on critical issues must end. We call on Turkey to uphold democratic values and ensure the freedom and independence of the press.
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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