Violations of rights faced by women journalists: Most cases in Turkey, Russia, Canada

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

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

Throughout the month of October 2021, the CFWIJ documented 40 cases of violations against women journalists.

Types of violations include detentions, legal harassment and physical assaults in the field, among other various kinds of press freedom attacks towards women journalists reporting from different parts of the world.

According to the report, while at least 19 women journalists were physically assaulted in Turkey, Italy, Kosovo and Palestine, six women reporters were targeted with organized troll campaigns in Canada and Pakistan. 

The report has found that at least seven women journalists were legally harassed in Russia and Turkey.

According to the CFWIJ, Turkey was the leading country with the most cases of violence against women journalists in October. At least 14 women journalists were subjected to violence in the country.

Russia followed Turkey with at least six cases against women journalists in the country. Five women reporters were threatened and subjected to violence in Canada, the CFWIJ report has found.

The report has also shared detailed information on a country basis. The information about Turkey is as follows:

• The police physically assaulted 12 women journalists covering student protests in İstanbul.
• Journalist Büşra Taşkıran was restricted by the police during their street interview in Ankara.
• Journalist Derya Okatan appeared in court to defend herself against charges of spreading false propaganda.
• A legal inquiry has been initiated against ETHA's Pınar Gayıp under charges of "targeting a counter-terrorism official". Pınar reported army sergeant Musa Orhan's rape of İpek Er, who later died by suicide.

(AÖ/SD)