Anastasia Mejia, a radio journalist from Joybaj, Guatemala, won the 2021 Press Freedom Award. The journalist was recognized for her relentless service in the field of journalism. Anastasia co-founded Xolabaj Radio, dedicated to news for the local community. In 2017, she also started Xolabaj TV, which broadcasts live and recorded content on the outlet's Facebook and YouTube accounts. Anastasia's channel aims to give a platform to women, especially Indigenous women, to share their life experiences and issues that impact their community. CFWIJ congratulates Anastasia for her well-deserving win.

Investigative journalist and founder of Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak, Clare Rewcastle was subjected to legal harassment by Kuwaiti investment advisor Hammad Al Wazzan. The journalist received letters from a London-based law firm Taylor Wessing on behalf of Al Wazzan. The letters from the law firm demanded Clare remove all the references related to Al Wazzan from her articles mentioned in the Sarawak report.

Yenibakış Gazetesi muhabirleri Esengül Aykaç ve Deniz Abidin Kuni hakkında, 50 bin kişiye 13 bin TL karşılığı Kıbrıs vatandaşlığı verileceği iddiasına dair yayımladıkları haber kapsamında dava açıldı. Gözaltına alınan gazetecilere yönelik ‘özel hayatın gizliliği’ni ihlalden üç bin TL nakdi teminat yatırmalarına ve adli kontrol şartı uygulanmasına karar verdi.

A lawsuit was filed against Yenibakış Newspaper reporters Esengül Aykaç and Deniz Abidin Kuni following the article published about corruption. The allegation was that about fifty thousand people will be granted Cypriot citizenship for an exchange of 13 thousand Turkish Lira (TL).

Türkiye’de basın özgürlüğü için kara bir gün yaşanıyor. Bugün dört gazeteci, haklarında terör suçlamalarıyla açılan dört ayrı davadan hakim karşısına çıktı. Her bir gazetecinin davası bilirkişi raporları, tanık dinlemeleri, mazeret bildirmeleri gerekçe gösterilerek tekrar ertelendi. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak sürekli ertelenen davaların gazetecileri yıpratma ve sindirme amacıyla uygulanan yeni bir yöntem olduğunu biliyor, gerçeklerin açığa çıkmasını sağlayan gazeteciler hakkında derhal beraat kararı verilmesini talep ediyoruz. “Gazetecilik suç değildir” demeye devam edeceğiz.

It is a dark day for press freedom in Turkey. Today, four journalists appeared in court in four separate cases against them on terrorism charges. Each journalists’ trial -except Melike Aydın- was postponed yet again. Expert reports, testimonies of witnesses were given as an excuse to adjourn the hearings again. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is aware that the constant postponement of trials is a new method managed to intimidate journalists. We strongly condemn the Turkish legal system and demand an immediate acquittal of journalists who allow the truth to be revealed. We reiterate that “Journalism is not a crime”.

Gazeteci yazar Sedef Kabaş ve 38 kişinin “ekonomiye zarar vermek” suçlamasıyla yargılandığı davanın beşinci duruşması bugün İstanbul’da görüldü. Mahkeme, sanıklara yönelik hazırlanan bilirkişi raporunda, sanıkların menfaat sağlamadığına hükmetti. Bankacılık Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurulu (BDDK) avukatlarına rapora karşı beyan için süre verildi. Bir sonraki duruşma 9 Temmuz 2021 tarihinde görülecek.

The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Sedef Kabaş and 38 people on charges of "damaging the economy" was held in Istanbul today. The court ruled the defendants did not provide benefit according to the expert report. Lawyers from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) were given an extension to declare against the report. The next hearing will be held on July 9, 2021.

Writer and investigative journalist Diana Oncioiu, associated with Sa Fie Lumina, is facing legal prosecution as per a petition filed by a former bishop of Varatec Monastery. The Bishop has sued Diana, two of her fellow reporters, Center for Investigative Media (CIM), and Dela0.ro over the series of articles published against him on the website. The bishop was accused of sexually abusing a number of minors during his tenure at Orthodox Christian high school. Sa Fie Lumina was jointly designed by CIM and Dela0.ro. CFWIJ demands Romanian law enforcement authorities drop the prosecution against Diana and other journalists as they only did their job in the best interest of the public.

Freelance journalist Maria Lilly Delgado was summoned on May 24 to testify in a money laundering case. At her second meeting on May 28, prosecutors informed Maria that she was now under investigation. The journalist responded to the previous summons, but authorities wanted to question her without her lawyer. The police released the journalist after she refused the interrogation without legal counsel.

Gazeteci Rojda Oğuz hakkında “silahlı terör örgütü üyeliği” ve “terör örgütü propagandası yapmak” suçlamalarıyla açılan davanın üçüncü duruşması bugün Van’da görüldü. Mahkeme, savunma vermeyen sanıklardan savunma alınmasına ve dosyada gizli tanık olarak bulunan üç kişinin dinlenmesine karar vererek bir sonraki duruşmayı 12 Ekim 2021 tarihine erteledi. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak uzun yıllardır devam eden ve sürekli ertelenen haksız yargılamaları kınıyor, gazeteci Oğuz’un derhal beraatını talep ediyoruz. Gazetecilik suç değildir.

The third hearing of the trial against journalist Rojda Oğuz on charges of being affiliated with an armed terrorist organization and spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization was held in Van today. The court adjourned the next hearing to October 12, 2021, to completely hear the defendant's case. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ), condemns the unfair trials that have been continuing for many years. We demand Rojda’s acquittal immediately. Journalism is not a crime.

Gazeteci Ayşe Kara hakkında, yazdığı haberler ve Özgür Gazeteciler Cemiyeti’ne (ÖGC) üye olduğu gerekçe gösterilerek dava açıldı. İddianamede gazeteci Kara hakkında ‘örgüt üyeliği’ suçlamasıyla 15 yıla kadar hapis cezası talep edildi. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak haberleri bahane gösterilerek gazeteciler hakkında haksız suçlamalarla açılan davaları kınıyoruz. Gazetecinin derhal beraatını talep ediyoruz.

A lawsuit was filed against journalist Ayşe Kara over her articles and her membership in the Free Journalists' Association (ÖGC). If convicted, Ayşe will be sentenced to prison for up to 15 years. She was allegedly accused of being affiliated with a terrorist organisation. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the lawsuit against the journalist with unfair accusations. We demand Ayşe’s immediate acquittal.

Rappler CEO and executive director, Maria Ressa, was cleared in the defamation case filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng. The charges were formally dismissed by Makati judge Andres Soriano in open court on Tuesday, June, 1. The case against Maria Ressa was the second libel case filed by Wilfredo Keng.