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.

The 11th hearing of the trial against Etkin News Agency (ETHA) editor İsminaz Temel and reporter Havva Cuştan on terrorism charges was held today. The court decided to hear the witnesses and to continue the travel ban against the journalists. The next hearing was postponed to May 25. The Coalition For Women In Journalism considers that court decisions are constantly postponed and journalists are being intimidated. We demand the journalists’ acquittal immediately.

The tenth hearing of the case where ETHA editor İsminaz Temel and Havva Cuştan along with 21 others are charged with “membership of terror organization” and “propaganda of terror organization” was held today. While the journalists didn’t attend the hearing, the request of their lawyers for lifting of judicial control measures and travel ban was refused. The judge ironically cited journalist Can Dündar who is now in exile, stating “those who will not get acquitted of charges carry the risk of running to exile”, almost admitting that the court did not have any intentions to acquit the journalists of the charges.