Turkey: We Welcome The Release Of Journalist Melike Aydin
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: January 31, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the release of Jin News reporter Melike Aydın, who was jailed pending trial since November 2019.
She has been freed from pre-trial detention by the Izmir Criminal Court – that will be overseeing her trial – following her attorney’s appeal. We demand that Turkish authorities also release other women journalists languishing inside prisons across Turkey.
Melike Aydın and Mesopotamia Agency reporter Ruken Demir were both arrested on November 12, 2019, for “engaging in activities on behalf of a terrorist organization”. They were taken into custody for reporting about the Kaz Mountains and protests by the Çiğli Women's Platform, both of which were used against them as criminal evidence.
Melike’s home in the Konak district of Izmir was raided at 6am in the morning on November 12, 2019, after which she was taken into custody. She was detained in handcuffs and kept inside the Aliağa Şakran Women's Closed Prison. You can read our earlier alert about the raid here.
We, at The Coalition, urge authorities in Turkey to release all other imprisoned women journalists, who have done nothing but report on facts. No journalist should be tried or jailed for doing their job. Journalism is not a crime and the Turkish government must ensure press freedom in the country.
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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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