Turkiye: Journalists on Trial for “Insult”
Sibel Hürtaş and Nurcan Baysal acquitted, prosecutor requests punishment for Sultan Eylem Keleş
Location: Turkiye
Date: January 25, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the persistent legal harassment of women journalists by the Turkish state, exemplified in the recent trials of Sibel Hürtaş, Sultan Eylem Keleş, and Nurcan Baysal. These journalists faced charges of "insulting a public official" and "publicly insulting the Turkish nation." Although Hürtaş and Baysal were acquitted, Sultan Eylem Keleş remains entangled in an ongoing legal battle. The systematic targeting of journalists with such charges poses a serious threat to press freedom. We assert that criminal prosecution for insult is disproportionate and that the protection of reputation should be addressed through civil law, not criminal sanctions. Such measures limit freedom of expression, undermining democratic discourse. While celebrating the acquittals, we urgently call upon the court to also acquit Sultan Eylem Keleş and all other Turkish journalists facing baseless charges, reaffirming their right to carry out their essential journalistic duties without unjust legal interference.
Sibel Hürtaş - Acquitted
Sibel Hürtaş, accused of "insulting a public officer" based on a complaint by Brigadier General Subutay Adas, faced trial at the Ankara 19th Criminal Court of First Instance. The charges were related to an article published on the Artı Gerçek website in August 2020. The hearing concluded on January 24, 2024, with Hürtaş being acquitted. This is just one of many unjust trials Hürtaş has faced for her reporting; CFWIJ has documented persistent legal harassment of the journalist.
Sultan Eylem Keleş – Case Postponed
On January 25, 2024, the latest hearing of Sultan Eylem Keleş's trial took place, where she faced charges of "insulting a public official." The Tele1 journalist was actively reporting on a protest organized by BIMEKS workers in İstanbul on September 17, 2020, when police intervened, leading to her brief detention. It took two years, until February 2022, for police to file charges against Keleş, accusing her of "resisting, preventing, and insulting public officials on duty" in connection to the incident. During the recent hearing, the prosecutor expressed his opinion, advocating for punishment. The trial, held in Istanbul, was postponed until May 28, 2024. This delay prolongs the uncertainty surrounding the charges against Keleş, emphasizing the urgent need for fair and expedited legal proceedings.
Nurcan Baysal - Acquitted
Nurcan Baysal was acquitted almost eight years after first facing charges. She was accused of "publicly insulting the Turkish nation" for her reporting on sexist graffiti found in Cizre in 2016. The Istanbul 55th Criminal Court of First Instance concluded her trial on January 25, 2024, overturning a previous sentence. The charges stemmed from her news article published on T24 on March 7, 2016. Baysal's successful appeal to the Constitutional Court, which found her case justified, highlights the importance of legal recourse against unjust charges.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom denounces legal harassment of journalists in Turkiye. The acquittals of Sibel Hürtaş and Nurcan Baysal are positive steps, but the ongoing trial against Sultan Eylem Keleş is concerning. We call upon the Turkish authorities to respect press freedom, cease the harassment of journalists, and ensure fair and transparent legal proceedings. The international community must remain vigilant and advocate for the protection of journalists who face unwarranted charges for simply doing their jobs.
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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.
