Location: Turkey,  İstanbul   
Date: June 8, 2022

Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe

A criminal investigation has been opened against journalist Zübeyde Sarı on allegations of “inciting public hatred” based on news reports she shared on social media. She is due before court next week to face the charges, which carry a prison term of up to three years, if convicted. The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces the legal proceedings initiated against Zübeyde and calls for them to be immediately dropped. The Turkish state has repeatedly weaponized the law against journalists criminalizing their work and right to free speech. It is apparent that this is yet another case of state-sponsored legal harassment to silence Kurdish voices.

The charge-sheet against the journalist claims that there is sufficient suspicion that Zübeyde’s social media posts “provoked people of Kurdish ethnic origin against people of Turkish ethnic origin”. The investigating body, Anti-Cyber Crime Branch Directorate, believes that these posts could constitute a criminal element. 

Zübeyde was not aware that she was being investigated. Speaking to the CFWIJ, the journalist said that the investigation was opened in March but she has just been informed of the case. Zübeyde said she gave her statement earlier when the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office inquired about her social media activity. She has denied all charges and maintains that her posts were related to her work as a member of the press.

The journalist confirmed to the CFWIJ that she was sent no formal notification about a lawsuit filed against her on these charges. Now, the hearing is fixed for June 16, 2022, with Zübeyde given little over a week to prepare. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces the legal proceedings against Zübeyde Sarı and extends support to the journalist. It is appalling that a journalist was under investigation and surveillance without being duly informed of the charges against her. Turkey has long since been on our radar as among the most difficult countries in the world for women journalists.

Throughout this year we have followed 39 ongoing trials of journalists facing criminal charges for simply doing their jobs and ten new cases of legal harassment. It is apparent that the state frequently resorts to vexatious legal harassment of critical journalists in attempts to intimidate them into submission. We call on the Turkish state and judiciary to respect press freedom and free speech in the country.   

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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