The journalist was on trial for commenting on and retweeting a news article mentioning the army officer

Location: Turkiye, Istanbul
Date: September 19, 2023

The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes Pinar Gayip’s acquittal. Lieutenant General Musa Çitil has consistently used his position of power to harass critical journalists legally. We strongly urge the courts also to acquit journalist Yağmur Kaya, who is currently facing trial following complaints from the same General.

On September 19, 2023, journalist Pinar Gayip — facing ongoing legal harassment and awaiting nine other cases related to her work — was cleared of charges relating to "marking counterterrorism officials as a target for terror groups" by Istanbul’s 25th Heavy Penal Court.

Gayip was accused based on a complaint filed by Lieutenant General Musa concerning a news article Gayıp shared on Twitter with the comment: "Musa O. must have been inspired by Musa Çitil to commit this crime." Musa Orhan (Musa O.), a specialist sergeant, was convicted in 2021 of sexually assaulting Kurdish woman İpek Er, who tragically took her own life after the assault.

Çitil previously faced charges himself for the murder of 13 villagers in the Derik district of Mardin and was acquitted. However, there have been allegations and controversies surrounding Çitil's potential involvement in human rights violations, including a case where Türkiye was found guilty by the European Court of Human Rights.

Gayip, ETHA’s editor, defended her statement by highlighting that Musa Orhan was dismissed from the military and convicted of the crime. She also mentioned that Musa Çitil had a history of committing torture and sexual assault, with no convictions obtained. Gayip argued that her comment fell within freedom of expression and thought as a journalist.

The prosecutor in the trial also recommended Gayip's acquittal, stating that she had not committed the alleged offense. 

Lieutenant General Musa Çitil has also filed similar complaints against journalist Yağmur Kaya and Ahmet Kanbal. Ahmet Kanbal was initially sentenced to one year and three months in prison but was later acquitted on appeal. The trial of Yağmur Kaya is still ongoing.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has documented at least 27 cases in Turkey against women journalists since 2022 in which social media posts were offered as evidence of a crime.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism commends the court for finding in favor of Pınar Gayıp and overturning the conviction of fellow journalist Ahmet Kanbal. We urge the judge in the case of Yağmur Kaya to follow suit and acquit the reporter of all charges.

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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.