Turkey: Sadiye Eser's Arrest Further Tightens Grip On Press Freedom
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: December 3, 2019Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the arrest of Mesopotamia Agency reporter Sadiye Eser. She was arrested for “being a member of a terrorist organization” based on the statements of an anonymous witness after her detention on November 29. We demand that our colleague is released immediately.
Sadiye was detained after leaving the Mesopotamia Agency office in Istanbul on November 29. After being detained for two days, she was sent to the Çağlayan Courthouse.
She rejected the charges against her during her defense. She indicated that she is doing her job as a journalist. Her lawyer Özcan Kılıç stated that she is not a part of any organisation.
"I agree with the defense of my client, there is no suspicion indicating that she will escape. The allegations whose accuracy is not certain and the statements of an anonymous witness who has benefited from effective remorse are not concrete evidence that would suffice for arrest. I request that Eser to be released on probation," her lawyer said.
After her defense, the Istanbul 3rd Criminal Court of Peace issued an arrest warrant for Eser on charge of “being members of a terrorist organization.” She was sent to Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison.
We, at The Coalition, are concerned about the safety and security of all our colleagues in Turkey who are currently detained and imprisoned for merely performing their duty. We urge the Turkish authorities to release all the women journalists languishing inside prison across Turkey. The country must stop oppressing journalists and make way for press freedom to flourish. No journalist deserves to be silenced for their work.
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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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