Turkiye: JIN News Intern Nazlıcan Yıldız Faces Terrorism Accusations in Turkish Court
Nazlıcan Yıldız’s ongoing legal battle underscores the perilous intersection of terrorism laws and journalism in Turkiye
Location: Turkiye, Bayrakli
Date: November 2, 2023
The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands an end to the harassment of JIN News journalist Nazlıcan Yıldız. The prosecution claims the intern for the Kurdish media outlet is a member of a terrorist organization because of her involvement in the Free Student Initiative. We urge the court to dismiss the case against her and for authorities to cease silencing Kurdish press by weaponizing anti-terrorism laws against its journalists.
The 4th hearing of the case against Nazlıcan Yıldız took place on November 2, 2023, at the 21st High Criminal Court of Bayrakli Courthouse. Yıldız stands accused of "membership in a terrorist organization" due to her alleged involvement with the Free Student Initiative.
The journalist states that the Free Student Initiative, in which she was involved, was established to address student issues and was not affiliated with any terrorist organization.
Yıldız is a journalism student at Ege University, and her internship at Jinnews, a news outlet entirely staffed by women, is central to her studies. Jinnews, which reports in both Turkish and Kurdish, is based in the predominantly Kurdish southeast region of Turkiye. The Coalition For Women In Journalism has documented how the news agency has consistently faced government scrutiny and accusations of promoting terrorism, primarily due to its focus on exposing human rights abuses by security forces. This region has been a long-standing battleground between the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) and the Turkish state. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.
Yıldız was first arrested and detained, with her electronic devices seized by the police, on February 6, 2023. Charges were brought against her based on both secret and open witness statements. Contradictory statements from a secret witness in the case raised serious questions about their credibility. Whereas a named public witness during Yıldız's hearing maintained that she had no connection with any terrorist organization.
The JIN News intern was released under judicial control in February but faced an international travel ban. In her latest court hearing, the prosecutor continued to allege that the student association, Free Student Initiative, was established under the instructions of a terrorist organization, citing both secret and public witness statements to support their case. Despite the request of Yıldız’s lawyers, the court decided to extend her international travel ban and postponed the hearing to December 7, 2023.
Kurdish media in Turkiye, which has endured long-standing restrictions and discrimination, continues to be persecuted and curtailed. Data from the Coalition For Women In Journalism over the last four years reveals that a significant majority, ranging from 60% to 80%, of targeted women journalists in Turkiye have Kurdish roots. These journalists are often unjustly accused of affiliation with the PKK simply because they report on their community or use their native language.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned about the charges brought against Nazlıcan Yıldız. It is imperative that the legal proceedings are transparent and fair, respecting the principles of press freedom and the right to a fair trial. We call on the courts to ensure a transparent and fair trial, with a thorough review of the evidence and witnesses' credibility. Any allegations or accusations against the journalist must be based on concrete evidence and adhere to international standards of due process.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism will continue to monitor Nazlıcan Yıldız's case and advocate for press freedom and the rights of journalists in Turkiye.
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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