Turkiye: CFWIJ and WPF Welcomes Dismissal of Charges Against Sibel Yukler, Urges Release of Remaining Detained Colleagues
Yukler and three colleagues were under investigation for retweets
Location: Turkey, Diyarbakir
Date: January 16, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom commends the decision of the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to drop the charges against journalist Sibel Yukler for retweeting news about a prosecutor's reassignment. The decision to drop the charges against Yukler reinforces a fundamental principle: journalists should not face legal repercussions for their role in sharing information that serves the public interest. However, while we celebrate this victory, we remain deeply concerned about the ongoing investigations against Yukler’s colleagues - Evrim Deniz, Evrim Kepenek, and Delal Akyüz. The continued pressure and legal actions against these journalists are alarming and represent an ongoing threat to press freedom in Turkiye. We encourage authorities to follow the precedent set in Sibel Yukler's case and drop the charges against the remaining journalists. Such actions are essential for fostering an environment where the media can operate freely and without fear of retribution.
Sibel Yukler, initially under investigation for retweeting, will not be prosecuted. Yukler and three other journalists were accused of "targeting a public official" for sharing details about the reassignment of Prosecutor Mehmet Karababa and his wife.
Journalist Fırat Can Arslan, who first tweeted about Karababa and his wife, was arrested on July 25, 2023. The four journalists who shared his post — Sibel Yükler, Evrim Deniz, Evrim Kepenek, and Delal Akyüz — were also detained.
On January 16, 2024, the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office delivered a decision of non-prosecution specifically addressing the case of Sibel Yukler. The ruling highlighted that journalist Fırat Can Arslan had been acquitted, emphasizing that "there is no room for prosecution" of Sibel Yukler.
Prosecutor Mehmet Karababa gained notoriety for his involvement in the indictment against 15 Kurdish journalists in Diyarbakır, who were unjustly imprisoned for 13 months on fabricated charges of terrorism. The revelation of the prosecutor and his wife's reassignment by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors triggered an investigation into the journalists for sharing this information on Twitter.
While we recognize the positive development in Sibel Yukler's case, we call for a halt to the state's efforts to control and silence the media. The frequent and unjustified legal harassment of journalists in Turkiye, as exemplified by the indictment and unjust imprisonment of many journalists, is a significant concern that needs to be addressed promptly and decisively. In light of this decision, we strongly urge all other prosecutors to take note of the stance adopted by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and promptly dismiss charges against the remaining journalists – Evrim Deniz, Evrim Kepenek, and Delal Akyüz.
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 women 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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