Turkey: Misuse Of Law To Silence Women Journalists Needs To Stop
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: February 27, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The eighth trial of journalists Semiha Şahin and Pınar Gayıp was held today. The two journalists are accused of “membership of a terrorist organisation” and “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation”. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands that Turkish authorities drop all charges against them. We also urge them to stop misusing the law and judiciary to silence journalists.
Editor Semiha Şahin and reporter Pınar Gayıp, who both work for the Etkin Haber Ajansı (ETHA News Agency), were detained on April 13, 2018. The next day, they were arrested by the Prosecutor's Office.
Both journalists were charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization"; however, Şahin had an additional charge i.e. “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation". The two were released by the courts into house arrest on June 15, 2019. Read our statement here.
During the last hearing, the journalists had their house arrests lifted by the court. The trial was then adjourned until today. Both the Semiha and Pınar were not present at the hearing.
Following the lack of digital examination reports in the file, the court decided to wait and adjourned the trial until May 14.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the use of draconian laws to persecute journalists in Turkey. The authorities must stop stifling press freedom and acquit all women journalists from the unjustifiable charges slapped on them.
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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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