Turkey: Violence Against Female Journalists Continues In Turkey - CFWIJ Concerned About Journalists' Safety
Location: Turkey, Istanbul, Aydın
Date: March 13, 2023Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
At least four female journalists in Turkey were subjected to violence last week and targeted by the government's intimidation policies. Journalist Sedef Kabaş was again sued for 'insulting the President'. The cases against journalists Yağmur Kaya and Nagihan Yılkın were heard. Gaye Şeyma Can was detained while following the March 8 Women's Day march. CFWIJ is concerned about the safety of journalists and the lack of press freedom in the country.
A lawsuit opened by a governor against the journalist for 'insult'
On March 5, 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Cumhuriyet newspaper correspondent Nagihan Yılkın and Editor-in-Chief Mustafa Büyüksipahi for 'publicly insulting a public official' on the grounds of the news titled ‘Indictment against Gaziantep Governorship: Corruption and bribery network revealed’ published in Cumhuriyet newspaper. The first hearing of the case was held on March 9 at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The second hearing of the insult case filed by Gaziantep Governor Davut Gül was postponed to July 13.
Gaziantep Valisi Davut Gül’ün şikayeti üzerine, erişim engeli getirttiği “Valilikte yolsuzluk ve rüşvet ağı ortaya çıktı” başlıklı haberime ilişkin hakkımda hakaret davası açılmıştı.
— Nagihan Yılkın (@nagihanyilkin) March 9, 2023
İlk duruşması görülen dava 13 Temmuz'a ertelendi. pic.twitter.com/xQV7ncBIpy
A trial investigating whether interviews constitute journalistic activity
The 3rd hearing of the trial against journalist Yağmur Kaya on the accusation of 'targeting people involved in the fight against terrorism' upon the complaint of Musa Çitil was held in Aydın. In the case opened against Artı Gerçek correspondent Yağmur Kaya upon the complaint of Jandarma General Command Deputy Commander Musa Çitil on the accusation of 'targeting people involved in the fight against terrorism', the interview made by journalist Kaya with İHD Co-Chair and lawyer Eren Keskin was subject to accusation. At the hearing on March 9, it was decided to investigate whether there is a case or investigation against Keskin regarding the interview subject to accusation. The next hearing was postponed to June 1.
Again, the accusation of 'insulting the President' against Sedef Kabaş
Journalist Sedef Kabaş faced almost the same case as she faced a year ago, on March 11, 2022. On January 22, 2022, Kabaş was arrested after using a proverb on a television program broadcast on Tele 1 channel. Kabaş was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for 'insulting the president' after being detained for 49 days.
This time, Kabaş was accused of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by posting many tweets ‘aimed at damaging his honor’. The prosecutor, showing 25 tweets as evidence against Kabaş, alleged that there was ‘the intention to damage the honor of the President’ and demanded the punishment of the journalist. The court gave a hearing date within just seven days. The first hearing will be held on June 22, 2023.
A female journalist detained on Women's Day
ANKA News Agency correspondent Gaye Şeyma Can was detained in handcuffs while following the Feminist Night March held annually in Taksim on March 8 International Women's Day. Although Gaye Şeyma Can stated that she was a journalist, the police intervened in the journalist trying to take pictures. Gaye Şeyma Can, who was held in a police vehicle for a while, was later released.
ANKA Haber Ajansı muhabiri Gaye Şeyma Can, izlemekle görevlendirildiği 8 Mart Dünya Emekçi Kadınlar Günü dolayısıyla her yıl Taksim'de düzenlenen Feminist Gece Yürüyüşü sırasında ters kelepçeyle gözaltına alındı. Can, daha sonra serbest bırakıldı.https://t.co/ygCjKnl0h9 pic.twitter.com/wVXwtTDzHF
— ANKA Haber Ajansı (@ankahabera) March 8, 2023
Şeyma Can described her experience and detention process as follows:
“I was trying to film the detentions. Meanwhile, a few police came to block me. I said I was a journalist. Then a police officer intervened in my camera. Then they tried to take me to police vehicle in handcuffs with the pretext of 'resisting the police'. As far as I can remember, four police officers came and tried to detain me by hitting my face. I'm diabetic. I felt bad, I fell to the ground without feeling my legs. Despite saying that I was diabetic, they said, 'Don't lie, get up, don't pretend to faint.' When I started to pass out, they realized the situation. After being put in the vehicle, I had to explain the situation to many police officers repeatedly. Then they removed the handcuffs and allowed me to drink fruit juice. After drinking the fruit juice, I came to myself. Then they released me.”
She continued with what she felt and experienced and said, “But for a moment, I didn't know what would happen, my eyes darkened. They took my phone, they took my institutional press card. Meanwhile, my phone rang, there were calls from my family but they did not allow me to answer. I cannot say that I have faced bad treatment, but despite the fact that I was in a difficult situation, good precautions were not taken. I experienced such a thing for the first time.”
Pressure and violence against journalists continue
Turkey, which ranked first in the world in threats and violence against female journalists in 2022, hosts many violent incidents this year again. Journalists are tried to be imprisoned through legal cases, silenced and intimidated with detentions and police violence. CFWIJ is concerned about the safety of journalists in this violent environment. Turkish government must immediately take the necessary steps to create an environment where press freedom exists and journalists can work safely. These women journalists will continue to reveal the facts without fear by fulfilling the requirements of the profession. Because journalism is not a crime, it is a sacred profession that must be done to enlighten societies. We stand by all women journalists in Turkey.
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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