Türkiye: After 1-Year Behind Bars, 4 Four Kurdish Women Journalists Released Pending Trial
Türkiye currently ranks second globally for the highest number of imprisoned women journalists
Location: Türkiye, Diyarbakır
Date: July 12, 2023Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Fifteen Kurdish journalists, including three women, are released pending trial after 13 months of detention. The journalists are charged with terrorism-related crimes for reporting the news. The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the release and hopes this is a positive sign the court acknowledges the charges have no merit. We are alarmed, however, by the organized legal harassment campaign we have documented against Kurdish journalists in the country.
After a two-day hearing, 15 imprisoned journalists were released pending trial, including Neşe Toprak, Elif Üngür, and Remziye Temel. The court imposed a travel ban and released the media workers under judicial control measures. The next hearing is to take place on November 9, 2023. Safiye Alagaş's case will be heard on the same day.
On June 8, 2022, 20 journalists, including six women, were detained during simultaneous police raids in Diyarbakır on their homes and the office of JINNEWS, a Kurdish news outlet. After eight days in custody, 16 detained journalists, including four women, were officially charged.
Among the arrested journalists are Jinnews director Safiye Alagaş, Neşe Toprak, Elif Üngür, and Remziye Temel. The prosecutors pursued Alagaş’s case separately, and the journalist was released last month.
“It is not possible to view these releases as hopeful steps for all jailed journalists," Resul Temur, lawyer for the journalists, told CFWIJ. He added that he expected their release in light of revelations that the case relied on false testimonies from a secret witness
"Arrest of Kurdish journalists in Turkey has become so common that we now attach excessive meaning to their release. In a country where there are numerous political arrests and releases have become a routine practice, the government tries to slow down society's reactions. The aim is to silence, frighten and intimidate the entire society. “
Temur also highlighted the mocking tone of court officials during the trials, revealing their dismissive attitude toward the press.
“During court proceedings when the journalists remarked that they were not the first journalists to be arrested, the presiding judge laughed and said ‘Apparently, you will not be the last.’ This joke serves as a telling example that the practice of arresting journalists will continue,” noted Temur.
Being tried based on ethnic background
“When Kurdish journalists report news, they are tried as members of a terrorist organization. When other journalists report the same news, they are accused of spreading false information”
“When Kurdish journalists report news, they are tried as members of a terrorist organization. When other journalists report the same news, they are accused of spreading false information," Mezopotamya Agency reporter Berivan Kutlu tells CFWIJ.
“It is extremely difficult for anyone to practice journalism in this environment,” Kutlu says about the hostilities from Turkish authorities against the free press, “But it is even harder for Kurdish journalists.”
Kutlu shares how authorities open “files” against Kurdish journalists “at intervals on the same charges,” clearly indicating the organized aspect of the legal harassment campaign. “Kurdish journalists, especially women, are then subjected to physical and verbal violence by the government.”
Turkey Imprisons Most Women Journalists After Iran
Turkey ended the first half of 2023 with 19 imprisoned women journalists, making it the second country, after Iran, with the most imprisoned women journalists. Even after today’s release, Turkey holds this position.
The country also tops the charts in the number of trials opened against women journalists. Almost all Kurdish women journalists who are detained and on trial are accused of being members of a terrorist organization or producing terrorist propaganda.
CFWIJ welcomes the decision to release the journalists. We demand an immediate end to the systematic pressure on Kurdish and women journalists. All other imprisoned journalists should be released immediately.
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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