Turkiye: Halk TV’s Seyhan Avşar Accused of Slander and Insult
Avşar’s faces legal harassment following report on Deputy Minister of Justice
Location: Turkiye, Istanbul
Date: January 8, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned about the recent developments involving Seyhan Avşar, a reporter for Halk TV in Turkiye. Avşar is currently facing charges of defamation, insult, and spreading misleading information following her investigative report on the Deputy Minister of Justice and his alleged ties with a known drug lord. This legal action, including the imposition of an overseas travel ban, represents a significant threat to press freedom and a disturbing trend of legal harassment against journalists, particularly those who are women. Avşar has been a target of legal scrutiny in the past for her reports on sensitive issues, including child abuse in state care homes and deaths in police custody. The pattern of targeting Avşar, among other journalists, is a clear systemic effort to suppress critical voices and investigative journalism. We urge the court to rectify this unjust instance of legal persecution and drop all charges.
On January 8, 2024, Seyhan Avşar provided her testimony at the İstanbul Courthouse in connection with her reporting on Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek. Her article unveiled allegations that Urfi Çetinkaya, a notorious drug trafficker released from prison in December 2023, had sought Gürlek’s assistance through intermediaries to secure his freedom.
The charges against Avşar include "insult," "defamation," and "disseminating misleading information." The prosecution contends that her report, accusing Gürlek of using his influence to manipulate the judicial system in favor of Çetinkaya, violates these legal statutes.
Avşar took to Twitter following the court’s decision to impose an international travel ban on her, stating, "We are going through very severe fascist conditions… I will continue to write without bowing down, without obeying..."
In her report on Halktv.com.tr, Avşar claimed that while Gürlek was Deputy Minister of Justice responsible for prisons, he was warned by the narcotics department about his contact with Çetinkaya, a wanted criminal apprehended in Istanbul in April 2023.
“I will continue to write without bowing down, without obeying”
After the article's publication on January 5, Avşar revealed on social media that she was facing a legal investigation. She alleged that Gürlek's lawyer pressured the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office to issue an arrest order against her. Avşar emphasized the power dynamics, stating that Gürlek, as the deputy minister, holds a superior position to the prosecutors and judges handling her case.
This is not the first time Turkish authorities have targeted Avşar for her reporting. She is also under legal scrutiny by the Ministry of Family and Social Services after reporting on child abuse in state care homes. In February 2023, the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office investigated her for an article on a detainee who passed away while in police custody. Avşar faced charges of insulting a public official in 2020 concerning a prosecutor with a criminal history.
The use of legal tools to silence and restrict a journalist's movements undermines the principles of a free and independent press. It is crucial that journalists can investigate and report without fear of reprisals, ensuring the public's right to access unbiased and diverse information. The repeated attempts to silence and intimidate Seyhan Avşar are targeted and malicious.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom demands an end to the harassment of the reporter. The charges of "insult," "defamation," and "disseminating misleading information" levied against Avşar highlight the repressive conditions under which journalists are operating in Turkiye. We demand an immediate cessation of the harassment of Avşar and a reconsideration of the travel ban imposed on her. The ability of journalists to report freely is fundamental to a democratic society, and any attempt to silence them through legal intimidation is an affront to the values of freedom and transparency.
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.
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