Turkiye: Seasoned Journalist Nazlı Ilıcak Imprisoned Following Controversial Verdict
The 79 year old journalist began her 2.5 year sentence after losing her appeal.
Location: Turkiye, Sakarya
Date: December 4, 2023
Renowned Turkish journalist Nazlı Ilıcak behind bars for allegedly “slandering” public officials in a 2016 article. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom are appalled by the treatment meted out to Ilıcak, who has endured a tumultuous career marked by legal battles and imprisonment. The persistent harassment by Turkish authorities against Ilıcak for her critical views is unacceptable, and her current incarceration demands our immediate attention. We vehemently call for a thorough and impartial review of the legal proceedings against Ilıcak and demand her immediate release.
Veteran journalist Nazlı Ilıcak was sent to prison after her appeal against a contentious conviction was dismissed. The Istanbul 15th Criminal Court of First Instance had originally sentenced the 79-year-old to two years and six months in prison for an article she penned in 2016 on the now-shuttered website Özgür Gündem.
On December 4, 2023, Ilıcak turned herself in at Sakarya Prison alongside her lawyer Kemal Ertuğ Derin, intending to be transferred to Hendek Women's Open Penal Institution. However, complications arose due to her probation status related to a previous "espionage" conviction. As a result, she had to remain in a closed prison initially, deviating from the usual procedure for her current conviction.
This unexpected turn of events prompted her lawyer to express dissatisfaction. He clarified that due to the probationary circumstances, Ilıcak is likely to spend the next two to three weeks in a closed prison before a transfer to an open prison, ultimately securing her release on probation. He added that there is no punishment for the “espionage” charge and explained that the confusion was caused by an incorrect referral.
Ilıcak is a prominent figure in Turkish journalism, starting as the chief editor at Tercüman newspaper, she has contributed to various newspapers, including Meydan, Hürriyet, Akşam, Yeni Şafak, Dünden Bugüne Tercüman, Bugün, and Takvim. Throughout her career, Ilıcak has faced multiple legal challenges. In 1991, she was ordered to pay substantial compensation in defamation lawsuits filed by members of the ruling party at the time. More recently, she became entangled in legal troubles related to the 2016 attempted coup in Turkiye. She was arrested in July 2016 and faced charges of "membership in a terrorist organization." Despite receiving a life sentence, after spending 1,197 days in prison, she was released after her conviction was overturned in July 2019.
The most recent legal saga traces back to Ilıcak's 2016 article titled "Hanefi Avcı's Operation Prospects" for Özgür Gündem, which led to a slander accusation by former Police Chief Hanefi Avcı. The indictment against her alleged that, through this article, Ilıcak had revealed the names of public officials who were supposedly members of an organization under investigation. The claim was that the article presented these officials in a way that implied they were involved in unlawful activities. The trial, concluded on April 19, 2022, culminated in a two-year and six-month prison sentence for the journalist.
Violations against journalists in Turkey are frequent and alarming. Women journalists are arbitrarily detained, harassed with lawsuits, and imprisoned for criticizing the state. The Erdogan government has shown complete disregard for press freedom and continues to exert control over state media outlets.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom are appalled by the treatment and sentencing of Nazlı Ilıcak. The veteran columnist has been repeatedly harassed and imprisoned by Turkish authorities for her critical views. Once again, she is unjustly behind bars for her journalistic work. We demand a thorough and impartial review of the legal proceedings against Ilıcak, ensuring her rights are respected. In the meantime, she should be immediately released from prison.
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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