Turkiye: WPF Welcomes European Court Ruling Ayşenur Parıldak's Detention Unlawful
Women Press Freedom celebrates the court’s decision, which vindicates the reporter who spent over three years behind bars
Location: TurkiyeDate: March 19, 2024
Women Press Freedom welcomes the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling that Turkiye violated the freedom, security, and freedom of expression rights of journalist Ayşenur Parıldak — exonerating the journalist and acknowledging the unjust sentence she endured. Following her arrest in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt, Parıldak spent over five years behind bars. In response to this grave injustice, the Turkish state has been ordered to compensate Parıldak with a total of €22,000. this ruling, We view this decision as a significant indictment of the systemic disregard for due process within Turkish courts since the 2016 coup attempt. The ongoing legal harassment, unjust detentions, and imprisonment of journalists must come to an end.
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On March 19, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Turkish authorities unlawfully detained journalist Ayşenur Parıldak.
Parıldak, who worked as a judicial correspondent for the Zaman newspaper, was arrested on August 11, 2016. She was convicted of being a member of a terrorist organization over alleged ties with the Fethullah Gülen network, which the Turkish government accuses of plotting the July 2016 coup attempt. After spending 5 years and 7 months behind bars, Parıldak was released from prison in March 2022 after serving her full sentence.
The ECtHR concluded that Parıldak was unlawfully detained due to a lack of reasonable grounds to suspect her of committing the alleged crime of membership in a terrorist organization. It stated that legal provisions were unreasonably interpreted and applied during her trial, violating her right to a fair trial. The court also ruled that Parıldak's arrest constituted a violation of her freedom of expression.
Turkiye has been ordered to pay €22,000 in compensation, including 16,000 Euros in moral damages and €6,000 in legal costs.
In the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt, the Turkish government purportedly aimed to hold those responsible accountable. This led to a widespread crackdown on dissenting voices. Hundreds of journalists across various media platforms were arrested, detained, and prosecuted, often under anti-terror laws. Many released pending trials faced additional restrictions, such as passport confiscation and internal travel limitations, with their media outlets shuttered by executive order, leaving them without jobs. Over 160 journalists were held in pre-trial detention, and 170 media organizations were immediately closed under state of emergency decrees, with only a fraction reopening later.
Veteran journalist Nazlı Ilıcak spent 1,197 days behind bars following her arrest in the aftermath of the failed coup. Her release came only after her conviction was overturned in July 2019. Following a similar legal path as Ayşenur Parıldak, in December 2021, the ECtHR further affirmed the injustice surrounding Ilıcak's case, ruling that her arrest lacked sufficient justification and encroached upon her freedom of expression, constituting a violation of her fundamental rights. Despite being awarded €16,000 in compensation for the inflicted harm, the ordeal for Ilıcak did not conclude there. On February 14, 2024, she found herself retried on the same terrorism charges she faced in 2016. The Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court convicted the journalist and sentenced her to five years and three months in prison.
The ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on journalist Ayşenur Parıldak's case is a damning indictment of Turkye's disregard for press freedom. The Strasbourg court has declared her detention unlawful and a violation of her fundamental human rights. Parıldak's arrest lacked any reasonable basis, and her trial was marred by unjust interpretations of the law, denying her a fair hearing. The ECHR's demand for compensation serves as a stark rebuke to Turkiye's oppressive tactics, which frequently target the press through unjust detentions, legal harassment, and imprisonment. Women Press Freedom hopes that this ruling serves as a catalyst for systemic change in Turkiye, fostering an environment where journalists can work without fear of persecution and where the principles of justice and democracy are upheld without compromise.
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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