Turkey: CFWIJ Demands Journalist Durket Süren’s Acquittal Immediately
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: January 26, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Durket Süren was held in Diyarbakır today. Durket faces charges of being affiliated with a terrorist organization, knowingly and willingly aiding an organization and spreading propaganda for an organization. The case was adjourned once again, regarding the report requested by the court a year ago was still not included in the case file. The next hearing was postponed to April 26, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the accusations that the journalist faces. We consider that silencing the journalists through the judiciary is a new method.
The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Durket Süren was held today at Diyarbakır 11th High Criminal Court. Durket faces charges of supporting a terrorist organization and spreading terrorist propaganda for an organization due to her social media posts and selling banned newspapers’ issues of Azadiya Welat and Özgür Gündem. While the journalist did not attend the hearing, her lawyers Resul Tamur and Yusuf Erdoğan were present in the court.
Durken was detained in Diyarbakır, where she went to follow the news, because of a search warrant two years ago. The journalist is facing up to 20 years sentence in prison. In the indictment, Durken’s social media posts, tape recordings and the sale of the banned newspapers are cited as evidence. Besides, the journalist's conversations with news sources regarding the news program she produced in 2017 and her membership of the Free Journalists Association are also considered as a crime.
In the hearing held today, the requested investigation report from Diyarbakır Police Criminal Laboratory regarding the confiscated digital materials of Süren have not been added to the case file yet. The court board decided to wait for the result of the report and postponed the next hearing to April 26, 2021.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the systematic efforts to suppress and intimidate journalists through the judiciary. According to the records we documented, at least two women journalists appear in court in a week, across the country. Most of them face prison sentences on terrorism charges because of their social media posts or news they revealed. We urge the Turkish authorities to end these repressions and to respect press freedom.
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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.
Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.
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