Turkey: CFWIJ Condemns Prosecution Request Against Journalist Nurcan Yalçın
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: September 29, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The fifth hearing of the trial against journalist Nurcan Yalçın was held in Diyarbakır today. The journalist is tried on charges of being affiliated with a terrorist organization and spreading terrorist propaganda. Today, the prosecutor requested the journalist be sentenced to prison.
The court adjourned the case to November 22 2021, giving time to complete the defences against the prosecution's opinion. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the baseless charges requested against journalists on their journalistic activities. We consider these policies are aimed at silencing and intimidating journalists. We demand the Turkish judiciary to take into account the criteria of press freedom and to acquit Nurcan.
The fifth hearing of the case against journalist Nurcan Yalçın on terror-related charges was held today at the 9th High Criminal Court of Diyarbakır. While the journalist did not attend the hearing held today, her lawyer Resul Tamur was present in the courtroom.
Today’s hearing, the prosecution alleged that the news outlet Jin News’ coverages linked and supported the PKK and the KCK, within the scope of the report provided by the Counter-terrorism Branch (TEM). The journalist previously worked for the news outlet. Presenting the prosecution’s opinion, the prosecutor demanded Nurcan be sentenced to between eight years to 20 years in prison.
According to the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the prosecution stated that the journalist participated in organizational actions of the activities of the Rosa Women's Association. She surrendered her will to the organization. Considering the evidence in the entire file and the secret witnesses, Nurcan allegedly acted within the hierarchy of the organization. The prosecutor also claimed a photo shared by the journalist on social media that spread chain propaganda to legitimize the aims and methods of the organization. According to the prosecutor, it was clear that she committed the crime of "being a member of a terrorist organization", considering the entire case file.
Lawyer Resul Temur, presented the tax plate of the Jinnews news agency to the court, which is the subject of the case. He stated that the news platform operates legally and carries out journalism activities. Temur also added that they previously submitted documents and statements that Nurcan was working at JİNHA not Jin News to the court committee. The lawyer demanded time to defend against the prosecution's opinion. The court accepted the lawyer's request and postponed the next hearing to November 22, 2021.
This case is not the only one in which journalist Nurcan Yalçın has appeared in court before. Another indictment against the journalist was drafted by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in April 2021. The lawsuit was accepted by the Mardin Criminal Court of First Instance on November 19, 2020, over a year after the incident in question. The successive lawsuit highlighted the 30-day action and demonstration ban the Mardin governorate enacted following the widely disputed decision to appoint trustees to the municipality. Consequently, the anti-trustee demonstrations were technically unlawful. At the first hearing of the case, the lawyers' request for acquittal was rejected. The next hearing will be held on October 13.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the trials against journalists with baseless accusations, and calls on the Turkish authorities to respect press freedom. We demand the Turkish authorities to abandon their policies of intimidation against journalists through the judiciary. Nurcan Yalçın must be immediately acquitted. Journalism is not a crime.
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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