Gazeteciler Rojda Oğuz, İsminaz Temel ve Havva Cuştan'ın davaları yine ertelendi. Üç gazeteci de ‘örgüt üyeliği’ ve ‘örgüt propagandası yapmak’ suçlamalarıyla yargılanıyor. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ), Türkiye'nin terör yasaları kapsamında gazetecilere karşı devam eden sindirme ve yıpratma politikalarını kınıyor. Yetkililerden Rojda, İsminaz ve Havva’nın derhal beraatını talep ediyoruz. Gazetecilik suç değildir.

Trials of Rojda Oğuz and İsminaz Temel and Havva Cuştan adjourned without proceedings on Tuesday. The three journalists have been charged with being members of a terrorist organization and with spreading “terror propaganda” in separate cases, where their journalistic activities have been cited as evidence against them. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the persistent legal persecution of journalists under Turkey’s terrorism laws. We are aware that the heavily-criticized legislation is frequently used by the state to target critical voices and suppress dissent. We extend solidarity to all Rojda, İsminaz and Havva, and demand that all fabricated charges against them are dropped immediately.

JinNews'in Kürtçe haber editörü ve Kürt PEN üyesi Roza Metina, Diyarbakır 5. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi’nde görülen duruşmada tüm asılsız suçlamalardan beraat etti. Demokratik Toplum Kongresi (DTK) ve kapatılan Kürt Yazarlar Derneği'nin delegesi olduğu iddiasıyla davanın üçüncü duruşmasında karar çıktı. Roza, evinde bulunan yasaklı kitapları bulundurmakla da suçlanmıştı. Mahkeme, gazetecinin silahlı terör örgütüyle bir ilişkisinin bulunduğuna dair herhangi bir kanıt bulunmadığını belirterek, Roza hakkında beraat kararı verdi.

Roza Metina, the Kurdish news editor for JinNews and member of Kurdish PEN, was acquitted of all baseless charges on Tuesday by the Diyarbakir 5th High Criminal Court. The judgement came on the third hearing of the trial based on accusations of being a delegate of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and the now shuttered Kurdish Writers Association. Rozaa was also charged with possession of banned books found at her house. The court acquitted Roza stating there is no proof that she did anything wrong being a member of an armed organization. The verdict also ordered the authorities to repeal all judicial control provisions imposed on her.

Yeni Yaşam Gazetesi editörü Hatice Şahin’e “silahlı örgüt üyeliği” suçlamasıyla açılan davanın altıncı duruşması bugün görüldü. Dava, eksik hususların giderilmesi talebiyle 26 Ocak 2022’ye ertelendi. Gazeteci hakkında çıkarılan yurt dışı yasağı yine kaldırılmadı. CFWIJ, uzun süre devam eden bu yasal süreçlerin gazetecileri yıpratmaya yönelik bir politika olarak kullanıldığını hatırlatıyor ve gazetecinin beraat etmesini talep ediyor.

The sixth hearing of the case against Hatice Şahin, editor for Yeni Yaşam newspaper, charged with being affiliated with an armed terrorist organization was held before a Diyarbakır court today. The hearing was adjourned for the third time without significant proceedings till January 26, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the continued intimidation of journalists through prolonged legal persecution.

Tatyana Voltskaya, Yekaterina Klepikovskaya, Yelizaveta Surnacheva and Yelena Slovyova have been tagged as 'Foreign Media Agents' in a recent move from the Justice Ministry. The list includes five Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalists, among others. Legislation adopted by the country in 2012 requires a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to identify itself as "foreign agents" and present for audits. The recent modifications in the law, which has been repeatedly amended, have majorly targeted foreign-funded media, including RFE/RL’s Russian service and its services in other languages. A number of RFE/RL reporters have been included in the list. The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with the targeted journalists in their fight for freedom of the press. We urge the Russian Justice Ministry to stop modifying laws in order to intimidate journalists.

12 women journalists were beaten by the police force while following the student protest in İstanbul. Police confiscated their press IDs and also impeded journalists from filming police brutality against students. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the violation of journalists' right to report. We demand an immediate return of the seized press cards

Belarus authorities have launched yet another criminal investigation against independent news agency Tut.by. This latest case is the continuation of the persistent legal harassment the Coalition For Women In Journalism has observed against the free press and freedom of information in the country. The Investigative Committee of Belarus announced on October 7 that a number of Tut.by staff members are being investigated for inciting public disorder. The CFWIJ is concerned as no specific number nor names of journalists against whom authorities are taking action have been given. We demand law enforcement authorities stop targeting independent voices and stop engaging them in one case after another. This persistent legal harassment is extremely concerning for the free press to thrive in the country.

BBC journalist Fiona Irving was interrupted by seven men during her live broadcast. The men ran across the camera screaming sexist remarks against the journalist before the transmission had to be abruptly halted. Fiona took to her social media to register her protest against the incident, calling out the misogynistic culture that enables this behaviour. This comes at a time when the United Kingdom is dealing with the question of categorizing misogyny as a hate crime

Gazeteci Canan Coşkun’un “terörle mücadelede görev almış kişileri terör örgütlerine hedef göstermek” suçlamasıyla yargılandığı davaya bugün İstanbul’da devam edildi. Mahkeme, gazeteci hakkında beraat kararı verdi. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) mahkeme kararını memnuniyetle karşılıyor, davanın diğer yargılamalar için emsal teşkil etmesini talep ediyor. Mahkeme kararı bir kez daha gazeteciliğin suç olmadığını kanıtlamıştır.

Journalist Canan Coşkun appeared before an İstanbul court today (Thursday) to defend herself terrorism case against her. The court announced its verdict and Canan was eventually acquitted of all charges after many delayed hearings. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes this decision. The court’s verdict proves once again journalism is not a crime. We hope other fabricated cases against journalists are dismissed as well.

Two more journalists were sent vile and racist emails this week, bringing the number of journalists, most of them women of color, targeted by an ongoing hate campaign to 20. Tanya Hayles, freelance journalist, founder of the online platform "Black Moms Connect'', and the latest victim of the vicious hate campaign, says she is amused by such attempts to silence her. Similarly, another journalist, Melissa Martin, who also received a hateful email by the “serial Canadian journalist insulter,” wondered at the pettiness of such trolls.

As an organized hate campaign against women journalists of color continues, journalist Farah Nasser, a news presenter for Global News, highlighted that most racist and hateful acts go unreported and are never taken to court. Farah shared video proof on Twitter incriminating Calgary mayoral candidate Kevin J. Johnston, who verbally harassed her with deeply racist speech a year ago.

Clare Rewcastle-Brown, editor of Sarawak Report, fears arrest by Interpol on behalf of the Malaysian government. The journalist, known for exposing high-level corruption, shared her concerns with the UK media. On September 23, the Malaysian government issued a warrant for Clare’s arrest, pertaining to her 2018 book about the 1MDB scandal. Clare intends to travel to Spain to tend to visit her elderly father but is at risk of arrest under the Interpol’s Red Notice system.