Turkiye: Exiled Journalist Perihan Kaya Retried on Terrorism Charges While Facing Potential Deportation
Women Press Freedom calls for immediate acquittal of Perihan Kaya on all charges and demands Turkish authorities cease harassment of her and other journalists who face similar threats
Location: Turkiye, DiyarbakirDate: April 5, 2024
Women Press Freedom stands unwaveringly with Perihan Kaya, an exiled journalist facing retrial in Turkiye on unfounded terrorism charges. This continued legal harassment against Kaya for her invaluable work with Kurdish media outlets and dedication to human rights journalism starkly illustrates the systemic suppression of press freedom and the targeted silencing of critical voices in Turkiye. Furthermore, Kaya's difficulties in seeking asylum highlight the international community's responsibility to protect journalists at risk and ensure they can continue their work without fear of persecution or imprisonment. The rejection of her asylum applications by Switzerland, under the threat of deportation to Croatia, where she faces arrest and potential extradition to Turkiye, is deeply troubling and calls for urgent international attention and intervention. Women Press Freedom demands the immediate acquittal of Perihan Kaya and calls on the Turkish authorities to cease their relentless pursuit of journalists through repressive legal measures. We further urge Switzerland to approve her asylum request and call on the international community to stand in solidarity with Kaya.
The fourth hearing of the retrial of exiled journalist Perihan Kaya took place on April 5, 2024, at the Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court.
Kaya is facing trial for alleged involvement with the Press Area of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) structure, as well as charges of engaging in "terrorism propaganda" and "membership of a terrorist organization." The KCK, a Kurdish political organization operating in Turkiye, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, is considered by the Turkish government to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), classified as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union.
The evidence presented against Kaya includes her affiliation with the Free Journalists Association (ÖGC), conversations with colleagues, social media posts, and statements from anonymous witnesses. Specifically, the indictment referenced eight Facebook posts from 2015 and 24 tweets, with unspecified dates, attributed to Kaya as evidence supporting the charges against her.
Initially, Kaya was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison. This decision was overturned by the 9th Criminal Chamber of the Diyarbakır Regional Court of Justice, which deemed the sentencing too lenient. The court invoked Article 43 of the Turkish Penal Code, necessitating a reevaluation due to multiple instances of alleged "propaganda" shared by Kaya on social media.
The case has been postponed until November 1, 2024.
Perihan Kaya is a journalist with a 15-year career focusing on human rights issues, particularly covering the oppression of Kurdish people and women's rights. She has contributed to outlets such as the Dicle News Agency (DİHA) and Jinha, both of which were closed under Turkiye's State of Emergency law. In a separate case in 2021, Kaya was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison for "insulting the President'' through her social media posts.
Fleeing Turkey in August 2022, Kaya's journey through Croatia resulted in traumatic detention before reaching Switzerland via Slovenia. Despite two asylum applications, Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) rejected her claims. If her appeal to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court (BVGer) is denied, Kaya, under the Dublin Convention, faces the possibility of being sent back to Croatia. There, she is at high risk of arrest and potential deportation back to Turkiye.
Perihan Kaya's ongoing harassment by state authorities is indicative of a broader trend of targeting journalists and suppressing dissent in Turkiye. Despite her exile, Kaya continues to draw scrutiny from the government due to her past reporting on human rights violations and advocacy for marginalized communities, notably the Kurdish population. The relentless legal actions against her, encompassing multiple trials and charges, show the authorities' attempts to silence critical voices and exert control over the media landscape. Beyond the courtroom, Kaya has faced hurdles in seeking asylum and endured traumatic detention while fleeing to safety.
Women Press Freedom urgently calls for an end to the persecution of Perihan Kaya. We implore the court to exonerate her of all allegations and urge Turkish authorities to halt their targeting of the journalist under the pretext of anti-terrorism measures. We urge the international community, including Switzerland, to uphold their obligations under international law to provide protection to journalists who seek asylum due to persecution in their home countries. The safety and freedom of journalists like Perihan Kaya are paramount in the fight for a just and informed society. Journalism is not a crime, and Kaya must be allowed to practice her profession without enduring persistent harassment from her homeland.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
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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