Protests Against the Coverage of a Woman Killing
Journalists and women organizations were outraged about the headline and the related photograph published in the Habertürk daily on Friday (7 October). The picture on the front page of the nation-wide daily showed the back of naked body of a woman who had been stabbed in the back by her husband.
Both the face of the killed woman and the knife that still stuck in her back were clearly visible on the picture. It was entitled "The last point of violence against women".
Journalists organizations and women organizations harshly criticized the newspaper for this violation of ethic rules of journalism.
The Turkey Journalists Association (TGC) said the story was contrary to the Declaration on Rights and Responsibilities of Journalists. The Press Council launched ex officio procedures about the news and the photograph. The Turkish Federation of Women Associations demanded the responsible journalist and editor to resign.
TGC announced in a written statement, "Many readers called us during the day and criticized this kind of photograph".
Orhan Erinç, TGC chair, stated that "the story opposed the Turkish Declaration on Rights and Responsibilities of Journalists".
"Unfortunately, two by two does not always make four in the media. The careless approach to the private life of a woman who was treated violently and the depiction of violence were brought to the agenda by this choice made on behalf of supposed journalism."
Press Council: The daily ignores professional principles
The Press Council announced to have launched official procedures about the news and the photograph upon the flood of negative reactions. The Press Council Supreme Board is going to convene for an extra-ordinary meeting on Monday (10 October) to find an urgent solution for this matter.
According to Dr. Hasan Sınar, Secretary General of the Press Council, the Habertürk daily "ignored the Professional Press Principles" since the day the paper was founded in March 2009.
"We are very sorry about this irresponsible and embarrassing story that disregarded human dignity, the dignity of women and journalistic ethics and that was just concerned with the circulation of the paper.
''The strong and sensitive reactions that were conveyed by the use of democratic rights spark hopes and indicate the level of a developed society that consists of capable and responsible individuals."
Women's protests
A statement signed by Canan Güllü from the Turkish Federation of Women Associations (TKDF) reads, "We demand the resignation of the writer of this news and the person who approved it. We call for journalism in print and on TV that stands for the right perspective".
The Platform of Insurrection against Women Murders reminded the fact that they had protested Habertürk before for publishing a television program that legitimized rape.
"This headline and the photograph do not draw attention to women murders but serve their legitimization instead. Women and their immediate environment are made to feel defenceless against threats of violence from males," the release of the platform reads.
"The daily and people who are doing journalism with this sort of approach are responsible for the violent treatment and the killing of women. Habertürk should apologize immediately and compensate for its position on taking such a vital topic to the headlines".
Associations and organizations part of the platform are the Istanbul Feminist Collective, Independent Feminists, Amargi, Filmmor, Women For Women's Human Rights Human Rights-News Ways (WWHR), Foundation for Solidarity with Women (KADAV), Purple Roof Women Shelter Foundation and the Socialist Feminist Collective. (ÇT/VK)