German-based journalist subjected to a criminal investigation as well as alleged surveillance by the Turkish state

Location: Turkiye
Date: May 28, 2024

Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the ongoing harassment and intimidation by Turkish authorities against Sevinç Özarslan, a Turkish journalist forced into exile in Germany. Özarslan, who reported on the death of a former combat pilot, Yahya Tarih, is now under investigation by Turkish authorities. Compounding this situation is the revelation that her name surfaced in leaked documents from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, suggesting that she was under surveillance and potentially subjected to social media hacks by Turkish authorities while living in Germany. Women Press Freedom is alarmed by this development, particularly given Turkiye's track record of targeting exiled journalists who dare to critique Erdogan's administration. We vehemently demand that the investigation into Özarslan be dropped and urge a thorough probe into the allegations of harassment against her by Turkish authorities.

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On May 28, 2024, Sevinç Özarslan, a journalist for Kronos news website, disclosed that she is under investigation by the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to her work.

Özarslan, a Turkish journalist who lives in Germany, reported on the death of Yahya Tarih, an F-16 pilot who died in a tractor accident in Kayseri. Because of this report, the Kayseri Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against Özarslan, accusing her of "unlawfully seizing or disseminating personal data.” These laws protect various types of personal information, including names, birth details, and other identifying information.

Özarslan clarified that her report only included Tarih's name, surname, and a photo in a non-specific uniform, all of which were already publicly available. She argued that a person's death is a public matter and should be reported on without requiring permission from the deceased’s family. Özarslan believes the complaint was driven by political motives rather than genuine concern over privacy.

Tarih, a combat pilot, was dismissed from his position in the Turkish Armed Forces by a statutory decree-law for alleged links to the Gülen movement. The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of orchestrating the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, and has since labeled it a "terrorist organization," a charge the movement denies. Tarih was sentenced to over six years in prison but was released pending a Supreme Court of Appeals decision.

Özarslan alleges that her story brought unwanted attention to the plight of dismissed pilots like Tarih. She contends that the real issue behind the investigation is to suppress the uncomfortable truths about the lives of those affected by statutory decrees.

Since the failed coup attempt in 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government has severely cracked down on media freedom, arresting journalists, and closing down critical media outlets. More than 130,000 public servants, including thousands of military personnel, judges, and prosecutors, have been purged under emergency decrees with no judicial oversight.

After the coup attempt, fearing persecution Özarslan fled to Europe for safety and has since been vocal about the severe human rights abuses in Turkiye. She frequently reports on how Turkish authorities demonize and unjustly target the Gülen Movement members and other opposition groups.

Turkish Government Targets Exiled Journalists

On May 27, in leaked documents obtained by Nordic Monitor, it was revealed that Turkiye's Foreign Ministry has been spying on critical Turkish journalists living in exile.

The surveillance program targeted journalists across various countries, including Sweden, Germany, Canada, the US, and the UK. Specific names of targeted journalists were mentioned, including Sevinç Özarslan, indicating a broad and systematic effort to monitor and intimidate exiled press.

The Turkish foreign ministry described the work of journalists as "black propaganda and disinformation," accusing them of targeting Turkish government institutions and public officials to discredit them.

A classified communiqué from December 2, 2022, shows that intelligence was used to create fabricated cases against journalists by the Ankara police and prosecutor’s office. Another communiqué from December 18, 2023, details efforts to monitor and hack journalists' websites, email, and social media accounts.

Targeted exiled journalists:

• Cevheri Güven and Sevinç Özarslan in Germany.

• Abdullah Bozkurt, Levent Kenez, and Bülent Korucu in Sweden.

• Said Sefa in Canada.

• Emrullah Uslu and Adem Yavuz Arslan in the US.

• Asım Yıldırım, Aydoğan Vatandaş, and Mehmet Faruk Mercan in the US.

• Tarik Toros in the UK.

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the harassment of exiled journalist Sevinç Özarslan, denouncing both the investigation by the prosecutor's office and the alleged surveillance by Turkish authorities. These actions constitute transnational repression tactics intended to silence and intimidate a prominent journalist critical of the Erdogan government.

The Turkish government's targeting of exiled journalists reflects a broader attempt to extend authoritarian control beyond national borders, creating a climate of fear and repression among Turkish diaspora communities. We call on the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor to drop its investigation into Özarslan and urge German authorities to investigate all allegations of surveillance of the journalist. Those responsible for targeting the journalist must be held accountable.

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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