WPF organization vehemently condemns the recent ruling by the Anadolu 9th Civil Court of First Instance, which ordered journalists Yasemin Çongar, Mehmet Baransu, Ahmet Altan, and Yıldıray Oğur to pay damages to retired General Çetin Doğan.

After a six-year long trial, the court finalized the case of former shuttered Taraf newspaper executives and reporters.

The hearing of the fabricated terror-related case against Yasemin Çongar was adjourned for the 38th time.

The hearing of the fabricated terror-related case against former Taraf executive Yasemin Çongar and other journalists of the shuttered newspaper was adjourned for the 37th time on Friday. The court decided to wait for the decision on defendant Mehmet Baransu’s request, pending before another court, to change the committee of judges hearing the case. The next hearing is now slated for January 21, 2022. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the prolonged trial the journalists have been subjected to for six years. We urge the Turkish authorities and judiciary to ensure a fair trial and drop all bogus charges filed against the journalists based on their critical reporting. We remind the Turkish authorities once again that journalism is not a crime and call for the acquittal of Yasemin and other journalists of the liberal news outlet.

In an interim order İstanbul court denied lawyers' request for recusal of journalist Mehmet Baransu from the court. The committee adjourned the 36th hearing of the case against Yasemin Çongar and four other executives of the now shut Taraf newspaper till November 12, 2021. The verdict was expected to be announced tomorrow (October 19). Four former executives including Yasemin are on trial for “disclosing classified information”. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the lawsuits against journalists that cast a shadow on the free press. We reiterate that journalism is not a crime and demand the immediate acquittal of Yasemin.

The 35th hearing of the case where the executives of the closed Taraf newspaper including Yasemin Çongar was held today. The journalists were tried on charges of "providing, disclosing and destroying information regarding the security of the state". The court again adjourned the case to October 18-19, giving time for lawyers and journalists to defend against the prosecutor’s accusations. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ), finds that the cases that are constantly postponed aim to intimidate the journalists. We demand Turkish authorities to acquit journalists immediately. Journalism is not a crime.

The 33rd hearing of the case where the executives of the closed Taraf newspaper including Yasemin Çongar was held yesterday. The court adjourned the trial for the 33rd time. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the attempts to intimidate journalists with cases that are constantly postponed. We demand all journalists acquittal immediately.