Turkey: CFWIJ Welcomes Zeynep Durgut’s Release And Demands Other Journalists Be Freed
Location: Turkey,Van
Date: Demecber 22, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Zeynep Durgut was released conditionally yesterday after being held in detention for four days. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes Zeynep’s release and demands the other imprisoned journalists be freed.
MA reporter Zeynep Durgut, who was detained in Şırnak on December 17, was transferred to the courthouse after testimonial proceedings at the police station. The journalist was brought to Van within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Durgut was referred to Van 2nd Criminal Magistrate's Office for allegations of acting on behalf of the terrorist organization.
Zeynep was questioned about the photos on the memory card in her camera. She stated that the photos were taken for news purposes related to the Free Women's Movement (TJA). She attested that the situation was not a crime. After the statements, the court decided that the journalist was not suspected of fleeing and obfuscating the evidence. Zeynep was released conditionally with an imposed travel ban.
At least two female journalists have been arbitrarily detained in the past month in Turkey. Journalist Kesire Önel was detained after the home raids in Istanbul on November 26. Önel was brought to Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse after her testimony and was released on condition of judicial control.
On November 20, JinNews Kurdish news editor Roza Metina was detained after the police raided her home as part of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) investigation. Roza was released conditionally after four days in police detention.
Although CFWIJ welcomes the release of Zeynep, we believe that the judicial control requirement and international travel bans are unjustified. We find the allegations against the journalist are gratuitous and consider the inspection of her photographs as a violation of private life. We demand that all charges against the journalist be dropped.
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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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