2,000 DAYS BEHIND BARS

54 freedom of expression organizations call for journalist Nedim Türfent’s release

Today, November 3, marks the 2,000th day of journalist Nedim Türfent’s imprisonment. 54 freedom of expression and human rights organizations around the world have called for his release.

İstanbul

54 freedom of expression organizations call for journalist Nedim Türfent’s release

* Photo: DİHA

Click to read the article in Turkish

54 human rights and freedom of expression organizations have urged the authorities in Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Nedim Türfent and to overturn his conviction.

Today, November 3, 2021, marks 2,000 days since he was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 8 years, 9 months in prison.

Sending a message from prison, Nedim Türfent has said:

There are so many injustices in our country that I hesitate to make statements on such specific days. On the other hand, it is easier to shine a light on injustices, unlawfulness and unfairness through known examples. This is why I see the 2000 days imprisonment as a symbol of the greater injustice in the country. It is imperative that there should be some sensitivity, not only for my own situation, but also for all prisoners who have been deprived of their freedom because of their opinions and their right to engage in politics. On the occasion of this day, I call upon all national and international rights organizations to show solidarity with all those imprisoned because of their thoughts, words and identities.

'Immediate release to rectify injustice'

Ma Thida, the Chair of PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee, has briefly said the following about Tüfent's imprisonment:

"Today marks another painful milestone in Nedim Türfent's gross miscarriage of justice. That he has now spent 2,000 days behind bars simply for doing his job beggars belief. As a first step towards rectifying this injustice, the Turkish authorities must release him immediately and unconditionally and urgently quash his conviction.

"Türfent's application before the European Court of Human Rights is still pending, three years after being lodged, and we trust that the Court can prioritize the case. The PEN Community stands once again by Türfent and all the writers and journalists wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey and will keep advocating for their freedom until every single one of them is released."

'Behind bars for 2,000 days, waiting for freedom'

Renan Akyavaş, the International Press Institute (IPI) Turkey Programme Coordinator, has also stated the following:

"Today, we pass another milestone of injustice without end for Nedim, punished for his courage as a reporter.

"Nedim has spent 2,000 days behind bars waiting for freedom. 2,000 days he should never have lost and can never regain.

"Hundreds more journalists have been similarly targeted by a judiciary weaponised to silence dissent. We have twice asked the Constitutional Court to prioritize Nedim's appeal to bring a swift end to this gross violation of rights. We trust that this time they will act."

'His journalism should have been awarded'

Murat Kök, Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) Project and Communications Coordinator, has said:

"Nedim has been punished for his journalism which should have been awarded. The injustices that Nedim faces are injustices the majority of Kurdish journalists face in Turkey.

"That is why we call on every person and institution that sincerely stands for freedom of expression to stand with Nedim."

About the imprisonment of Nedim Türfent

The MLSA has shared the following information about the imprisonment of journalist Nedim Türfent:

"A news editor and reporter at the now-closed pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency (DİHA), Nedim Türfent was detained on 12 May 2016 shortly after reporting on Turkish special police forces' ill-treatment of Kurdish workers. Soon after his video footage was released, Türfent began receiving death threats from the police and was the target of an online harassment campaign.

"He was formally charged with 'membership of a terrorist organisation' one day after his arrest; the indictment was first produced 10 months later. He spent almost two years in solitary confinement in harrowing detention conditions.

"Among the reasons listed in the indictment were Türfent's social media posts, his news reporting and 20 concealed witness testimonies.

"His first hearing was held in Hakkari on 14 June 2017, some 200 km away from Van where he was being detained.

"He was denied the right to appear physically in court seven times, and instead testified via the judicial conferencing system SEGBİS, experiencing severe connection and interpretation issues. Out of the 20 witnesses called, 19 retracted their statements, saying they had been extracted under torture.

"Despite such clear evidence of flagrant fair trial violations, Türfent was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for 'membership of a terrorist organisation' and 'spreading terrorist propaganda' on 15 December 2017. The sentence was approved by the Court of Cassation on 9 May 2020.

"His application before the Constitutional Court is still pending, more than three years after being lodged. His lawyers appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on 5 February 2019."

The signatories of the joint call:

ARTICLE 19
Articolo 21
Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Croatian PEN
Danish PEN
English PEN
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
French PEN
German PEN
Human Rights Association (HRA)/ İnsan Hakları Derneği (İHD)
IFEX
Index on Censorship
Initiative for Freedom of Expression/ Düşünçe Suçu?!na Karşı Girişim
Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann
Kurdish PEN
Montenegrin PEN Center
OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
PEN America
PEN Bangladesh
PEN Belgium (French-speaking)
PEN Centre of Bosnia & Herzegovina
PEN Esperanto
PEN Estonia
PEN Georgia
PEN Iraq
PEN Latvia
PEN Malta
PEN Melbourne
PEN Moscow
PEN Netherlands
PEN Norway
PEN Portugal
PEN Québec
PEN Romania
PEN Suisse Romand
PEN Trieste
PEN Turkey
Perth PEN Centre
Russian PEN
San Miguel de Allende PEN
Slovene PEN
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
St Petersburg PEN
Swedish PEN
Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project/Türkiye İnsan Hakları Davalarına Destek Projesi
Vietnamese Abroad PEN centre
Wales PEN Cymru