MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed - Women have been taking to the streets across Turkey to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25. Women journalists have been covering the protests, marches, and demonstrations of women to be the voice of women. But they face violence, legal harassment, and prevention while doing their profession.  Despite the pressure they face, they continue to combat violence against women along with women, who take to the streets. We spoke to women journalists about violence against them.

Turkey ranks 153 in RSF Press Freedom Index

Turkey has ranked 153 out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2021 World Press Freedom Index. In May, the Journalists Union of Turkey (Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikasi – TGS) released its Press Freedom Report covering the period from April 2020 to April 2021. The report states that 43 journalists are behind bars in Turkey, at least 57 journalists were taken into police custody while six journalists were battered in custody, 274 journalists faced legal harassment, and journalists were sentenced to a total of 226 years, 8 months, and 25 days in prison.

Investigations against 8 journalists in October

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DGF) has prepared reports on rights violations against journalists across Turkey since its foundation in 2020. According to the report released by the association in October, three journalists were taken into custody, six journalists were subjected to attacks, eight journalists were prevented from doing their profession, eight journalists faced investigations, lawsuits were filed against four journalists, three journalists were sentenced to 2 years, 6 months and 12 days in prison and a fine of 16,600 TL, 58 journalists faced legal harassment, the access of 50 news websites were blocked.

“63 journalists are behind bars in Turkey”

Dicle Müftüoğlu, the co-chair of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and editor of Mesopotamia News Agency (MA), commented on the situation of journalists in Turkey and said, “The anti-democratic practices in the country are also reflected in the press. People are afraid of expressing their thoughts. Journalists are prevented from reporting. This is the reality in the country. Journalists face legal harassment for doing journalism. Our colleagues are detained and arrested. As of today, 63 journalists are behind bars in Turkey. The picture of Turkey shows how journalists face challenges while doing their profession.”

“Journalists continue to report”

Stating that rights violations against a journalist affect all journalists, Dicle Müftüoğlu said that journalists and press outlets often face censorship. Recalling the situation of journalists under the state of emergency, she said that many national and international press outlets were closed down by statutory decrees. “Journalists have resisted for years despite the pressure. Journalists continue to report and write.”

“The attacks on women’s rights also affect women journalists”

Indicating that journalists are still under pressure, Dicle Müftüoğlu said, “Women journalists are under pressure. The attacks on women’s rights in Turkey also affect women journalists because women journalists are the voices of women, who struggle to not die and take to the streets to demand their rights. Actually, the ruling party is afraid of women journalists because they make the voices of women heard all around the world. They attack women journalists because they don’t want the current situation in Turkey to be heard. Whenever a political operation is launched against women, women journalists are taken into custody. They are prevented from reporting. They face legal harassment over terror charges. But women journalists keep reporting despite all pressures against them.”

Women journalists work hard

Women have been taking to the streets across Turkey to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25. Women journalists have been working hard these days to report the protests, marches, and demonstrations of women. Jinnews reporter Şêrin Çınar is one of these journalists. “We work non-stop to be the voice of women speaking out against violence,” she told us. Stating that women are taking to the streets to protest the increasing violence, rape, and femicides in the country, Şêrin Çınar said, “Despite the recent increasing attacks and violence against journalists, we continue to be on the field and report. Although we are in the week of November 25, most of the protests, marches, and demonstrations of women are blocked by police, and journalists are prevented from taking photos and coverages. Journalists are mostly subjected to police violence while trying to do their profession. We, as women journalists, will continue to resist attacks against us. We will continue to be the voice of women.”