The harsh weather conditions in Texas and the East Coast are hindering the work of both media outlets and key workers. Snowstorm hits many media outlets that are unable to broadcast due to power outages. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) shares its utmost concern for the well-being of journalists who are struggling with the brutal weather conditions.

Gurban Soltan Achilova, a senior journalist at radio, “Azatlyk” has faced persistent harassment at the hands of state security. On different occasions, Soltan was repeatedly assaulted in recent years in November 2017 and in May 2018. She was barred to leave the country in August 2019. The journalist has faced persistent onslaught in the hands of law enforcement officials of the country for doing her job sincerely. CFWIJ condemns this tormenting treatment towards the journalist and asks authorities to stop harassing her. We demand government officials and law enforcement to hold the involved unprofessional officials accountable for their unjustified intimidation towards Soltan.

A meeting took place between journalist Patricia Devlin and members of the legislative assembly in Ireland to discuss the harrowing threats the journalist has received. Patricia Devlin is a crime journalist who is repeatedly targeted by criminal groups in Ireland due to her work. Recently her name was graffitied on the wall alongside a gun target to intimidate her.

HDP Kadın Meclisleri'nin Çağlayan Adliyesi önünde yapacağı basın açıklamasını takip eden beş kadın gazeteciye polis müdahale etti. Haber yerinden uzaklaştırılan gazetecilere polis, “PKK'lı yandaş, araba ezmiyor ki şunları!” ifadelerini kullandı. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak haber takibi yapan gazetecileri hedef alan polisi ve uygulanan polis şiddetini kınıyoruz. Gazetecilik faaliyetlerini yerine getiren gazetecilere yöneltilen ithamları kabul etmiyoruz. Gazetecilik suç değildir.

Police interfered with five female reporters covering the press briefing of HDP Women's Assemblies at İstanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse. Police told reporters who were removed from the field, "Terrorist supporters, I wish the car crashed on them!”. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the police targeting the journalists and the police violence against them. We do not accept the accusations against journalists carrying out their journalistic coverage. Journalism is not a crime.

Journalist Nooshin Jafari was arrested without notice and transferred to Qarchak Prison to serve a four-year prison sentence. She was sentenced on charges of “spreading anti-establishment propaganda” and “insulting sanctities”. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the arrest of Nooshin without even a summons notice. We urge the Iranian regime to end intimidating the journalists and demand Nooshin’s release immediately. Journalism is not a crime.

Seven soldiers from Uganda People’s Defence Forces are sentenced with reprimand leading up to three months in jail. The soldiers were charged for assaulting journalists outside the U.N. office in the capital, Kampala on Wednesday. Several journalists sustained serious injuries and were then hospitalized. CFWIJ welcomes this decision and hopes not to observe such brutality again against any journalist.

Several journalists resigned from a national newspaper once it appeared that the publication was succumbing to military demands. Earlier, the same day, journalists also left the press council in protest following an emergency meeting with the new regime.

The situation in Myanmar remains violative since the military seized power in a coup on February 1. Hundreds of thousands take to the streets in various cities across the country in defiance of the military generals who have deployed troops in major cities. Violence against the protestors is accompanied with a continuous crackdown on press freedom. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is constantly in touch with journalists in Myanmar who express severe concerns about their safety, some of them remain in hideouts. The latest updates come from a female journalist who prefers to stay anonymous. She paints a harrowing picture of the police and the military persecuting township residents. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is utterly dismayed with the acceleration of violence in Myanmar and calls upon the international community to act united.

Anayasa Mahkemesi (AYM), haber takibi yaparken polis şiddetine maruz kalan gazeteci Beyza Kural Yılancı’nın kötü muamele gördüğüne kanaat getirerek 15 bin TL manevi tazminat ödenmesine karar verdi. AYM ayrıca Beyza Kural’ın ifade ve basın özgürlüğünün de ihlal edildiği sonucuna vardı. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak mahkeme kararını memnuniyetle karşılıyoruz. Haber yapmak, haberi takip etmek bir gazetecinin temel hakkıdır. Engellenemez.

The Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled journalist Beyza Kural Yılancı, who was subjected to police violence while covering the demonstration, was mistreated and decided 15 thousand Turkish Liras (TL) in moral compensation. AYM also concluded that the journalist’s freedom of expression was violated. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes the court verdict. It is the fundamental right of journalists to follow and cover the news. Cannot be prevented.

Local journalists including Irene Abalo of The Daily Monitor, Shamim Nabakooza of Record TV, Rashida Nakaayi of Galaxy FM, Josephine Namakumbi of NBS were physically assaulted by the military police. The journalists were there to cover the filing of a petition from Bobi Wine, a runner-up in recent presidential elections. They were beaten while reporting outside the U.N. rights office in the capital, Kampala. CFWIJ condemns this inhumane torture on journalists and urges the Ugandan authorities to prosecute the perpetrators as per law.

The 11th hearing of the trial against Etkin News Agency (ETHA) editor İsminaz Temel and reporter Havva Cuştan on terrorism charges was held today. The court decided to hear the witnesses and to continue the travel ban against the journalists. The next hearing was postponed to May 25. The Coalition For Women In Journalism considers that court decisions are constantly postponed and journalists are being intimidated. We demand the journalists’ acquittal immediately.

Katsyaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova were sentenced to two years imprisonment in a minimum-security penal colony. The journalists were arrested for covering a protest rally last year.

Sözcü Gazetesi yazarı Çiğdem Toker’e karşı açılan tazminat davasının beşinci duruşması bugün davaya bakan mahkeme başkanının idari izinli olması gerekçe gösterilerek ertelendi. Gazeteci Toker 80 bin TL manevi tazminat talebiyle yargılanıyor. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak gazetecilere karşı gerçekdışı meblağlarla açılan tazminat davalarını kınıyoruz. Mahkeme heyetinden davanın reddini talep ediyoruz.