Turkey: Prosecutor Appealed Journalist Melis Alphan’s Acquittal And Brought It To The Higher Court
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: July 8, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The prosecutor appealed the acquittal of journalist Melis Alphan. The case is scheduled to reopen in the Turkish Supreme Court. The decision will be determined by July 13, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) demands the Turkish authorities to rule a fair decision and dismiss the case file completely. Melis Alphan is a journalist and journalism is not a crime.
The prosecution objected to journalist Melis Alphan’s acquittal, who was tried on charges of "spreading terrorist propaganda” over a post she shared six years ago. Melis was acquitted of all charges in the second hearing. Objecting to the acquittal decision, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office applied to the Court of Appeal and demanded that the decision be reversed. The court will decide to reopen the case file until July 13, 2021.
Melis took to her Twitter account to announce the prosecutor's objection. “In the case where I was acquitted after being tried for up to 7.5 years in prison, the prosecutor appealed against the verdict and brought the case to the higher court. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has applied to the Regional Court of Justice for the appeal, and a response will be sent by 13 July,” she said.
An investigation was launched against Melis Alphan on November 23, 2020, for a photo she shared from the Newroz event in Diyarbakır about six years ago. Melis, who stated the prosecutor announced that an investigation was conducted against her allegedly for spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization due to the photo she posted on social media. The journalist faced up to seven years sentence in prison. However, the court board decided for journalist Melis Alphan's acquittal on May 21.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the prosecution's decision. The acquittal verdict about Melis Alphan proves that the profession of journalism is not a crime. The reversal of the decision would cast a shadow over press freedom. No journalist can be prosecuted based on the news coverage or social media posts. The prosecution's attempt to appeal against Alphan is a result of Turkey's policies of intimidation against journalists. It is unacceptable. 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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