Turkiye: Court Dismisses Media Group’s Second SLAPP Case Against Journalist Canan Kaya
Location: Turkey, İstanbul
Date: June 7, 2022
*Updated on November 9, 2023Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
An Istanbul court dismisses a lawsuit against Canan Kaya, Editor-in-Chief of Medya Koridoru brought by Demirören Media Group. In June 2022, the media group initiated its second legal action against Kaya, this time for her reporting on the company’s financial difficulties. The Coalition For Women In Journalism commends the court’s decision to drop this case, proving the legal action was without merit and merely a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) aimed at extorting and intimidating the journalist.
In 2022, Demirören Media Group filed a SLAPP case demanding compensation of 20 thousand TL (1195 USD) from journalist Canan Kaya concerning reporting on her online news portal on November 26, 2021. Allegedly, the journalist reported 'delusive and slanderous' information, damaged the media group’s reputation, and severely violated the rights of Demirören.
On November 9, 2023, the 39th Civil Court of First Instance in Istanbul dismissed the case, citing "no other issue that required investigation and examination," as reported by the Media and Legal Studies Association (MLSA). Kaya expressed her satisfaction with the court's decision on Twitter, celebrating that the second compensation lawsuit filed by Demirören against her was rejected.
In a previous case, the media group sought 50 thousand TL in compensation from Kaya over a story covering the forced resignation of a woman employee. The court dismissed this case in April 2021.
Kaya’s report that was the subject of the most recent lawsuit, focused on Demirören Media Group's 750 million USD loan from Ziraat Bank in 2018 and raised concerns about the group's ability to repay. It suggested that affiliated media outlets, including Milliyet newspaper and Demirören News Agency (DHA), could face closure, leading to job losses for media workers.
On January 31, 2022, Kaya revealed that she was investigated by Istanbul's prosecutor's office, and two police officers visited her home. On June 7, 2022, the first hearing of the case took place at the Istanbul 18th Civil Court of First Instance, with lawyers for Demirören reiterating their complaint, citing an official condemnation from the Press Council General Secretariat on December 29, 2021. Kaya's lawyer, Aktan, defended the journalist's coverage, emphasizing its dedication to ethical journalism, objectivity, and the public interest. He argued that the report fell within the bounds of freedom of expression, stating that the case was unfair and lacked legal basis. The court agreed and dismissed the case against Kaya in November 2023.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism applauds the court's decision to dismiss this lawsuit against Canan Kaya, considering such cases as attempts to intimidate and silence investigative reporting. This marks the second time Demirören Media Group's claims against Kaya have been rejected, reinforcing the importance of protecting journalists from legal tools used to pressure and silence them. The Coalition hopes that this just decision serves as a deterrent against similar actions in Turkiye and upholds press freedom.
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.
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