Report: Turkey is the top country in violating the rights of women journalists

* Photo: From the CFWIJ report

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Coalition For Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) has released its monthly report "Press Freedom Status for Women Journalists: June 2021."

The report sheds light on a total of 77 cases of violations against women journalists worldwide, in which Turkey again leads as the country with the most frequent cases of legal harassment. 36 of the 77 cases in total that include murders, abduction, detentions and physical assaults were reported in Turkey, followed by Pakistan with nine cases.

In Kabul, Mina Khairi got murdered during an improvised explosive device (IED) attack against the public. The journalist working for Ariana news is already the fourth Afghan journalist killed this year.

NOTE: Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous countries to work as a journalist. Now attacks by extremist wings become even more frequent after the agreement between the US and the Afghan Taliban.

"The number of assaults by the police against women reporters in the field increased by 83.3 percent compared to May."

The number of physical assaults in June counts 16 in total. A significant percentage were reported in Palestine, where several women journalists were attacked by Israeli armed forces, one case including sexual harassment of a journalist covering the Gaza protests.

'Highest number of legal harassments in a month'

In Turkey, several women journalists were "beaten with force and impeded" while covering women's demonstration in Ankara and Kadıköy protests in İstanbul as well as the LGBTI+ Pride in İstanbul, where also numerous attenders were violently intervened and detained.

At the end of June 2021, the first hearing of the court case filed against 33 women and two men journalists who joined the International Women's Day March in 2020 was held. They were sued for "participating in prohibited gatherings" and "resisting the police".

NOTE: Cases as such, in which the fundamental right to participate in mass movements in the field of women journalists is contested, happen very frequently in Turkey. The law enforcement, meant to assure journalists' safety during their coverage, prevents them from doing their job, as recently seen in a circular issued by the Directorate General of Security, banning audio and video recording during public incidents.

The involved Gazete Yolculuk reporter Buse Söğütlü rejected the accusations as she "attended the march firstly as a journalist and secondly as a woman" and further stated that these methods of intimidation won't hold the journalists back from covering the events.

Frequently, the cases of legal harassment were connected to the accusation of "being affiliated with terrorist groups and spreading propaganda".

A lawsuit was filed against journalist Ayşe Kara over her articles and her membership in the Free Journalists' Association (ÖGC).

The CFWIJ has also referred to the trial known as the "KCK Press Case", in which 17 women journalists and media workers were tried for nine years on charges of "being affiliated with a terrorist organization and establishing and leading an armed terrorist organization". The trial was postponed for the 22nd time. Next hearing will be held on November 23, 2021.

NOTE: According to the CFWIJ, "25 women journalists appeared in court to defend themselves in June". Concerning this, the CFWIJ has commented, "Turkey is one of the most dangerous countries with the cases of legal harassment and intimidation by the state."

Click here to read the full report

About the CFWIJ

The report stems from the independent nonprofit organization "The Coalition for Women in Journalism '' that seeks to establish an ecosystem which can meet the needs for equality for the community.

This pioneer project born in 2017 seeks to make up for the years women in Journalism haven't been backed by a supporting network. It connects women journalists from all parts of the world and fosters a more diverse and dynamic coverage and greater access to news and audience.

Their contribution for a safe and independent environment encourages a culture of responsible and professional women journalism.

Besides their mentorship programmes, their intensive data collection follows all cases of violations faced by women journalists and sheds light on the horrific international situation. (BB/SD)