29 Mar 18 | Campaigns -- Featured, Statements, Turkey Statements
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The undersigned international press freedom groups call on Turkish authorities to immediately release the 12 printworkers and staff arrested on 28 March at the premises and print works of the newspaper Özgürlükçü Demokrasi and the further 15 staff taken into custody after home raids on the morning of 29 March 2018. Authorities must also restore control over the paper and its premises to the rightful owners.
The below-named organizations also denounce the fact that lawyers acting for those arrested have been denied contact with prosecutors or access to any written documentation in relation to the raids.
Two officials purporting to be from the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) are in place at the print works and premises of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, a pro-Kurdish daily, and claim to be holding the sites until they receive further instructions. For its part, the TMSF, now part of the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate of National Estates and formerly an independent banking watchdog under the auspices of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, has denied having received instructions to seize the newspaper’s assets.
According to lawyers acting for the detained printworkers and Özgürlükçü Demokrasi’s principal signatory İhsan Yaşar and Kasım Zengin the owner of Gün Printing Advertising Film and Publishing Inc, where the newspaper is printed, a press crimes investigation into the paper was opened on February 7. This was followed by a separate counter-terrorism investigation that began on March 23. It is believed that both investigations, of which no written notification has been made to the paper, are in relation to Özgürlükçü Demokrasi’s coverage of Turkey’s incursion into Afrin, northern Syria.
As the sole remaining Kurdish daily newspaper in Istanbul, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi is vital in maintaining the extremely fragile access to information that is not controlled by the state. Following the closure of other pro-Kurdish newspapers and television stations such as Azadiya Welat, IMC TV and Hayatın Sesi in 2016, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi is one of the last sources of pro-Kurdish daily printed news in Turkey.
“The Turkish authorities must halt their sustained repression of Kurdish culture and language. We are highly alarmed by the onslaught on Kurdish and pro-Kurdish media outlets and journalists that has intensified dramatically since the crackdown on freedom of expression since the attempted coup of July 2016, and now reached a new low point with this takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi,” said Carles Torner, Executive Director of Pen International.
We, the signatories of this statement, strongly condemn the takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, which has taken place without any legal justification or documentation. We reject the denial of information and prosecutorial access to lawyers acting for Özgürlükçü Demokrasi’s arrested staff members.
“The government’s takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi is extremely concerning,” said Joy Hyvarinen, head of advocacy at Index on Censorship, “We urge European and other governments to condemn the obliteration of free media in Turkey.”
We call for the release of the arrested staff members and printworkers and official confirmation from the TMSF of the legal status of the alleged acquisition of Engin Publishing Print Inc. — and the Gün Printing Advertising Film and Publishing Inc.
Katie Morris, Head of Europe and Central Asia Programme at Article 19 said: “The takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi restricts the space for freedom of expression even further in Turkey and curtails the right of the public to access information on issues of public interest, particularly in relation to the on-going conflict in the South East of the country. We call for the authorities to cease harassing this newspaper and restore much-needed media freedom in Turkey.”
The takeover of one of the last remaining opposition newspapers follows the acquisition last week of Turkey’s largest media organization and newspaper distributor, Doğan Group, by Turkish conglomerate Demirören, whose media outlets are known for taking a pro-government stance. In the week prior to the purchase, an internet streaming bill was passed granting the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) sweeping powers to monitor, license and block online streaming channels and news providers.
“This latest act against freedom press confirms that Erdogan wants to repress any free voice in Turkey. A firm position in Europe is needed to make pressure the Turkish government to restore the rule of law as soon as possible with the cessation of the state of emergency,” said Antonella Napoli member of Articolo 21 and coordinator of Free Turkey Media in Italy.
International Press Institute (IPI)’s Turkey Advocacy Coordinator Caroline Stockford said, “IPI strongly condemns yesterday’s raid and the government’s tactic of shutting down Özgürlükçü Demokrasi in an apparently illegal manner in order to silence dissenting voices in the run-up to the presidential elections. Despite the opportunity presenting itself at this week’s Varna summit, Europe failed again to strongly condemn Turkey’s repression of free media and free speech.”
The peoples of Turkey have a right to access informative opposition reporting in order to form a balanced opinion, especially in the lead up to an election. We call on Turkey to respect the human right to freedom of expression and to refrain from its practice of stifling all opposition media and to release the Özgürlükçü Demokrasi workers from detention.
We, the undersigned, call on European newspapers and governments to make clear statements to Turkey that access to balanced, critical reporting is essential to democracy and that the freedom of the press must be respected and maintained.
International Press Institute (IPI)
Pen International
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF)
Article 19
Norwegian Pen
Index on Censorship
English Pen
Articolo 21
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Pen Belgium/Flanders
Wales Pen Cymru
Pen Germany
Pen Club Français
Pen Suisse Romand[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1522334755757-294591af-d9eb-2″ taxonomies=”1743″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
23 Mar 18 | Campaigns -- Featured, Statements, Turkey, Turkey Statements
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Şahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan
Turkey should immediately implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and release the veteran journalists Mehmet Altan and Şahin Alpay without delay, a coalition of nongovernmental groups said on 23 March 2018. Furthermore, Turkey must ensure that domestic remedies for human rights violations are effective, in particular by ensuring the urgent review of all cases of journalists and writers currently pending before its Constitutional Court.
The organizations, which had intervened as third parties in the cases before the court, included PEN International, ARTICLE 19, Committee to Protect Journalists, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, European Federation of Journalists, Human Rights Watch, Index on Censorship, International Press Institute, International Senior Lawyers Project and Reporters Without Borders. The coalition welcomed the judgments announced on March 20, 2018. The rulings are the first by the court in the cases of journalists arrested and detained on charges in relation to the failed 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. They set an important precedent for the other cases of 154 detained journalists in Turkey.
“The Turkish government must take action to implement the European Court of Human Rights’ judgement. The ongoing trials are a serious breach of human rights and freedom of expression by the government. Turkey must cease its judicial harassment of journalists, academics and lawyers,” said Joy Hyvarinen, head of advocacy of Index on Censorship said.
In its two judgments, the European Court found violations of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to freedom of expression. The court made clear that criticism of governments should not attract criminal charges since, in addition to pre-trial detention, this would inevitably have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and would silence dissenting voices.
“We welcome these rulings, in particular the European Court’s recognition that a state of emergency must not be abused as a pretext for limiting freedom of expression,” said Carles Torner, executive director of PEN International.
While acknowledging the threat posed to Turkey by the attempted coup, the court crucially noted that “the existence of a ‘public emergency threatening the life of the nation’ must not serve as a pretext for limiting freedom of political debate, which is at the very core of the concept of a democratic society.”
The European Court has also found that the journalists’ detention was unlawful under the right to liberty protected by Article 5 (1) of the European Convention. The European Court endorsed the January 2018 ruling of Turkey’s Constitutional Court, which held that there was not sufficient evidence to keep the defendants in detention and ordered their release.
The judgment further sharply criticized the lower courts for refusing to carry out the Constitutional Court’s decision. In particular, the applicants’ continued pre-trial detention raised serious doubts as to the ability of the domestic legal system in providing an effective remedy for human rights violations, stating: “For another court to call into question the powers conferred on a constitutional court to give final and binding judgments on individual applications runs counter to the fundamental principles of the rule of law and legal certainty.”
“We welcome the court’s finding that the right to liberty of the applicants was violated,” said Caroline Stockford, Turkey Advocacy Coordinator for the International Press Institute. “The Court rightly criticised the refusal by the lower domestic courts to implement the Turkish Constitutional Court’s decisions and to release Mehmet Altan and Şahin Alpay.”
The European Court decided not to examine the applicants’ complaint that the detention of the applicants was politically motivated, under Article 18 of the convention.
“In deciding not to rule on Article 18, the European Court dodges an important question at the core of this litigation, which is whether Turkey’s prosecutions of journalists just for doing their work is part of a larger campaign to crack down on independent journalism?”, said Torner.
“The decision stated that ‘the investigating authorities had been unable to demonstrate any factual basis’that indicate that both journalists had committed the offenses with which he was charged’. The Court repeats what we have been saying with our affiliates for years to Turkish authorities that journalism is not a crime and journalists, like writers or academicians in the country, must not be prosecuted for their work or opinions,” said Ricardo Gutiérrez, EFJ General Secretary.
What the judgments mean for other cases
The judgments contain some important statements of principle on unlawful detention and freedom of expression. In particular, the European Court emphasised that it is not permissible to prosecute individuals on the basis of expression that is critical of the government.
However, in practice, the judgments also imply that the European Court will wait for the Constitutional Court to rule on the other pending cases of Turkish journalists before proceeding to its own review. This is because the European Court still considers the Constitutional Court an effective remedy in general.
Although the European Court was prepared to accept the length of time the Constitutional Court took to review these cases, the judgment is effectively putting the Constitutional Court on notice, saying that it will keep the situation under review and that it cannot continue taking this long to decide on cases.
The coalition repeats its call for the immediate implementation of these two judgments and for the release of Mehmet Altan from prison and Şahin Alpay from house arrest.
“These judgments are an important affirmation of the right to free expression and clearly state that the state of emergency is not a good enough reason to hold journalists and writers in detention for what they say,” said Gabrielle Guillemin, Senior Legal Officer at ARTICLE 19. “The Turkish authorities must now immediately release them both and the Turkish courts should apply these principles to the many other cases of detained journalists in Turkey,” she added.
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08 Mar 18 | Global Journalist (Arabic), Journalism Toolbox Arabic
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تبتكر النساء الكرديات في الموقع الإخباري النسوي الوحيد في تركيا ، جين نيوز ، ووسائل اعلامية أخرى نهجا جديدًا في الصحافة في تركيا، لكنهن يتعرّضن للضغط ولقد تم احتجاز العديد منهن أو تم تقديمهن للمحاكمة أو حتى تهديدهن.”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
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يحتفل هذه الأيام موقع الأخبار النسوية الوحيد في تركيا باليوم العالمي للمرأة ولكن تحت رقابة الدولة. فلقد تم حجب الوصول إلى الموقع الإلكتروني الخاص بـ “جين نيوز” (جين تعني “امرأة” باللغة الكردية)، والذي تديره النساء بالكامل ويركز تحديدًا على الأخبار المتعلقة بالنساء ، تم حجبه سبع مرات خلال أسبوع واحد فقط في نهاية يناير، وفي الوقت الحالي، لا يمكن الوصول إلى الموقع من داخل تركيا.
لكن هذه الضغوطات لم تنجح في تثبيط عزيمة الصحفيات في “جين نيوز”. تقول محّررة الأخبار في الموقع بيريتان الياقوت: “لقد أظهرنا دوما أن لدينا بدائل ، ونحن مستمرون في إظهارها”. تعتمد “جين نيوز” على الشبكات الاجتماعية واستخدام الشبكات الافتراضية الخاصة، ولقد أعلنت انشاء قناة تلفزيونية جديدة بمناسبة اليوم العالمي للمرأة ، الذي له أهمية مزدوجة بالنسبة لهم. فلقد تأسست “جينها” ، وهي أول وكالة أنباء تديرها نساء في البلاد ، أيضا في اليوم العالمي للمرأة قبل ست سنوات.
ان الضغوطات ليست شيئا جديدا عليهن ، اذ تم اغلاقهم مرتين في السابق، وهذا أكثر مما حدث مع أي وسيلة إخبارية أخرى في البلاد حتى في ظل حالة الطوارئ الحالية. أولاً ، تم إغلاق “جينها” بناء على مرسوم صادر في أكتوبر ٢٠١٦. ولم يسمح لـ “غازيتي سوجين” ، خليفة “جينها” ، بالعمل لأكثر من تسعة أشهر قبل صدور قرار آخر بإغلاقها في أغسطس ٢٠١٧.
على الرغم من ذلك، بعثت “جين نيوز” من الرماد ، حاملة معها إرث وكالة “جينها” النسائي، ويتضمن ذلك الكتابة بأسلوب يضع النساء “كفاعلات لا كمفعولات بهن” في الحدث. كما يحرص الموقع على استخدام اللغة الواعية ، مثل استخدام كلمة “قتلت غيلة” بدلا من “قتلت” للتأكيد على عنف الذكور. كما أنها تتجنب ابراز أي تفاصيل قد تبرر العنف ضد المرأة بشكل غير مباشر (على سبيل المثال من خلال رفض ملاحظة أن الضحية كانت تسعى إلى الطلاق) أو تقديم تفاصيل وصفية غير ضرورية في حالات الاعتداء الجنسي. ثم هناك استخدام الموقع الصارم للأسماء الأولى بدلاً من أسماء العائلة – وهي الممارسة التي اعتمدتها هذه المقالة لتقديم لمحة عن منهاجيتهن.
تقول بيريتان: “عند تغطية شؤون النساء ، كان علينا التفكير حتى في أصغر التفاصيل. لقد اخترنا عدم استخدام اسم العائلة لكسر المفهوم القائل بأن السلالة يجب أن تنحدر من الرجال. إذا قلنا بيريتان الياقوت في بداية المقال لتقديم شخص ما ، فإننا نستخدم الاسم (الأول) الذي يميز هذا الشخص”.
حتى كبار المسئولين، بمن فيهم رئيسان سابقان للحزب الديمقراطي الشعبي المؤيد للأكراد ، واللذان الآن هما قيد الاعتقال ، فيجن يوكسكاديتش وصلاح الدين ديميرتاش ، لم يتم اعفاؤهما من هذه القاعدة.
هذا يعني أيضا مقاربة مختلفة في اختيار المواضيع. “نحن لا نغطي الأخبار المتعلقة بالهجوم الجنسي أو الاعتداء الجنسي أو التحرّش. بدأنا في تغطية القصص التي تركّز على النساء كأفراد قويات، وعلى النساء الرائدات. ركزنا على الاقتصاد والبيئة. لقد جعلنا النساء مرئيات في السياسة ، وأبرزناهن وأعطيناهن صوتًا “.
تشجيع النساء على التحدث
لضمان عدم تكميم أفواه النساء ، تستخدم “جين نيوز” حصريا شهادات واقتباسات من النساء في تقاريرها. تقول الصحفية شريبان أصلان وهي تتجه إلى السوق الشعبي في باولار في ديار بكر ، أن ردود فعل النساء دائمًا ما تكون إيجابية للغاية عندما تقوم الوكالة بتقديم نفسها كهيئة كردية تغطي شؤون النساء.
بعد وصولها إلى السوق ، تسير شريبان وزميلتها ، رينجين عزيز أوغلو ، بهدوء بينما تبحثان عن نساء يدرن متاجر. موضوع تغطيتهما هو تدمير مركز صحي محلي، الذي تم تحويله إلى مركز للشرطة من قبل وصي معين من الحكومة وذلك بعد أن ألقى رؤساء البلديات المنتخبين في السجن.
يظهر التأثير فوراً عند دخولهن الى محل لبيع الهدايا، فتوافق احدى البائعات على إجراء المقابلة معهما. تقول لها شريبان “هناك تصور في المجتمع أن المرأة لا يمكنها أن تعمل ولكنك حطمتي هذا التصور” فتجيب الامرأة دون تردد: “قطعاً”. عندما تقترب المقابلة من نهايتها ، تسألها شريبان إذا كانت لديها أي رسائل تريد توجيهها إلى نساء أخريات فتقول: “يجب على كل النساء أن تعمل… لا ينبغي أن تستسلمن إلى الرجال”.
تقول شريبان: “تشعر النساء بالراحة والثقة عندما يتحدثن إلينا… وكوننا وكالة كردية فان ذلك يساعد أيضًا”.
سألها رجل وهي تخرج من متجر: “من أي وكالة أنت؟” ترد شريبان “نحن من وسائل الإعلام الحرة”، مستخدمة وهو التعبير الذي يشير به الأكراد إلى وسائل الإعلام الخاصة بهم، فيرحب بها بحرارة.
تشدد مونتيفير كارادمير ، محررة “جين نيوز” باللغة الكردية ، على أهمية عامل التشجيع هذا. تقول: “عندما تعطيهن الثقة للتعبير عن أنفسهن ، فإن النساء يحضنونك”…عندما تخبر أي بائع متجر أنا من وكالة تديرها امرأة تركّز على مشاكل النساء، فإن موقفها يصبح مختلفاً للغاية. إنها تشعر بالأمان وأنها قادرة على إخبارك بما تمر به. “
كما أن صحفيات “جين نيوز” يتوقنّ إلى توسيع نطاق الخبرة التي يبنينها مع وسائل اعلامية أخرى، وخاصة مع الصحافيين الذكور. فهن لديهن الآن مشروع لإعداد قاموس من أجل لغة إخبارية غير تمييزية. تقول بيريتان “كنا نخطط للاجتماع مع الرجال وتنظيم ورشات تدريب حول” كيفية تصميم قصة إخبارية “و” كيفية استخدام لغة صديقة للمرأة في المقالات الإخبارية “ولكن لم نتمكن من ذلك بسبب الظروف [في المنطقة]”.
ومع ذلك ، فإن مجرد وجودهن بدأ بالفعل في تعزيز الوعي العام. تضيف: “بعض الصحفيين ، وهم من الرجال في معظم الأحيان ، يسألوننا:” هل تريدون التحقق من هذا التقرير وما إذا كنا قد استخدمنا اللغة الصحيحة؟ إنهم يشعرون الآن بالقلق”. ولقد كان أحد أهم النجاحات التي حققتها بيريتان هو إظهار أن النساء هن أكثر من قادرات على الانخراط في العمل الصحافي – ربما بشكل يتفوق على عمل الرجال. “رأينا أن المرأة كانت سريعة كذلك. ولكن هذه السرعة تسعى أيضًا إلى مشاركة الخبر بأفضل طريقة ممكنة. فلقد كنّ دقيقات في عملهن “.
صحافيات ينشئن منصة ضد الضغوط
وفقا لبيريتان ، كانت سياسة “جين نيوز” لجمع أصوات النساء وحدهم أكثر نجاحا في الشرق مقارنة مع غرب تركيا. كان ذلك نتيجة سياسة “التكافؤ بين الرؤساء” الصارمة التي أطلقها الحزب الديمقراطي الشعبي، والتي ضمنت للنساء تولي مناصب رفيعة في البلديات الكردية. لكن بعد أن احتل الأمناء المعينين من الحكومة معظم البلديات التي يقودها الحزب الديمقراطي الشعبي، لم تفقد “جين نيوز” مصادرها النسائية هناك فحسب – اذ أن معظم الأمناء هم من الرجال – ولكنهم فقدوا مصدراً مهماً للدخل، فالعديد من عضوات المجالس البلدية كن من المشتركات في خدماتهن وكن يشجعن أنشطة الوكالة الإخبارية هذه.
ومنذ بدء الحملات العسكرية في المراكز الحضرية في المنطقة ، أصبح الصحفيون هدفاً لأجهزة الأمن التابعة للدولة، وأصبح الاعتقال والاحتجاز من الممارسات الشائعة ضدهم. “أرادت الدولة عزلنا في منازلنا من خلال الاعتقالات. وعندما لم يفلح ذلك ، حاولوا إغلاق الوسائل الاعلامية بالكامل” تقول بيريتان وهي تتلقى خبرا مفاده أن أحد مراسلاتها ، دوركيت سورين ، قد اتُهمت بـ “الانتماء إلى منظمة إرهابية وتمويلها” بعد احتجازها قبل عدة أيام عند نقطة تفتيش. في نهاية المطاف تم إطلاق سراح دوركيت من قبل المحكمة بعد حظر السفر عليها وأمرها بزيارة مركز للشرطة بانتظام.
لم تكن دوركيت الصحفية الوحيدة من “جين نيوز” التي تواجه اتهامات جنائية اذ تقضي حالياً مراسلة صحيفة “جينها” السابقة ، زهرة دوغان ، حكماً بالسجن لمدة سنتين وتسعة أشهر بتهمة “نشر دعاية منظمة إرهابية”. وكانت قد أُدينت بعد نشرها شهادة بنت في العاشرة من العمر متأثرة بالعملية العسكرية التركية ضد بلدة نصيبين في مقال من كانون الأول / ديسمبر ٢٠١٥. كما تلقت زهرة ، وهي رسّامة أيضا ، حكما بالسجن “لرسمها الأعلام التركية على المباني المدمرة” في لوحة تم نسخها من صورة حقيقية تظهر الأعلام التركية على المباني التي دمرتها القوات التركية. كما تلقت بيريتان كانوزر، مراسلة الوكالة في اسطنبول ، وأيصل إشيك، أحكاما بالسجن أيضاً. واعتُقل كثيرون غيرهن ، حيث يخضع ١٠ مراسلين للمحاكمة حالياً كما تتلقى الوكالة تهديدات بشكل دوري.
تقول عيشه غون ، وهي مراسلة وكالة” ميزوبوتاميا” الكردية والمتحدثة باسم منصة صحافيات ميزوبوتاميا، أن عنف الدولة قد أصبح اليوم ممارسة روتينية. “في مقاطعة مثل شرناق، تتعرض صحافياتنا باستمرار للمضايقات أو التهديدات اللفظية. نتجنب الكثير منهن الذهاب وحدهن إلى القرى أو الى بعض الأحياء. وهن يتعرضن للتهديد ، من الاختطاف إلى التعدّي عليهم أو الاغتصاب. قد تكون التهديدات لفظية في الوقت الراهن، لكن هناك محاولة جادة لتخويفهن.”
تم تأسيس المنصة في عام ٢٠١٧ في يوم رمزي آخر ، يوم حرية الصحافة في ٣ مايو / أيار ، وكان الهدف ضمان قدرة النساء على النضال من اجل القضايا المشتركة. وتشمل هذه القضايا الاجتماعية – مثل البطالة بعد الإغلاق المتكرر للوسائل الإعلامية الكردية في ديار بكر – ولكن أيضا ضد كل أنواع العنف. تقول عيشه: “بفضل هذه المجموعة ، أردنا مساعدة أصدقائنا الذين يتم اعتقالهم أو احتجازهم أو الذين يتعرضون للمضايقات من مصادرهم أو الاعتداء عليهم أو إساءة معاملتهم من قبل الشرطة. كما أردنا أن نجعل الضغط مرئيًا للجميع”.
آخر الصحافيات اللواتي اعتقلتهن الشرطة هي سيدا تاسكين ، التي كانت تكتب تحقيقا في مقاطعة موش. تم إطلاق سيدا بشكل مشروط، ليتم اعتقالها بعد شهر مجددا في أنقرة بسبب تقاريرها وتغريداتها.
وفقا لعيشه، فإنه ليس من قبيل المصادفة أن التجربة الصحافية للمرأة بدأت في ديار بكر ، وليس – كما كان متوقعا – في اسطنبول. “إن شعبنا يعرف كيف يعيش في ظل أوضاع صعبة. المرأة الكردية تعرف كيف تقاوم. تم إغلاق “جينها” فتم إنشاء “سوجين”. تم إغلاق “سوجين” فتم إنشاء “جين نيوز”، مما يعني أنه يمكننا إعادة اختراع أنفسنا مرارًا وتكرارًا”، نقول قبل أن تضيف: “نحن نتحدث هنا عن حرية المرأة وليس المساواة بين الجنسين. هذا شيء يذهب أبعد بكثير”.
كما قالت عيشه إنها ترغب في توجيه دعوة إلى جميع الصحفيات في تركيا للتضامن معهن. تقول:”لا يكاد يوجد أي صحفي هنا لم تقام محاكمة له. هم إما يظلون بين السجن وخارجه أو يجب عليهم زيارة مركز الشرطة كل يومين أو ثلاثة أو حتى خمسة أيام. هذا يعني أنهم لا يستطيعون مغادرة المدينة ، التي أصبحت سجنًا في الهواء الطلق.” ثم تضيف: “لكن هذا لا يحدث للأكراد فقط. هذا يحدث في كل مكان. لذلك هذا هو الوقت المناسب لأن نعمل معا “.
أوزغون أزوكير
أوزغون أزوكير هو صحفي ومسؤول في منصة الصحافة المستقلة في اسطنبول. وقد عمل في العديد من وسائل الإعلام التركية بما في ذلك “طرف”، وصحيفة حرييت و”بيرغوم”. كما عمل في عدد من المنظمات غير الحكومية ، مثل منظمة اليونيسيف في تركيا ومنظمة العفو في تركيا.
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08 Mar 18 | News and features, Turkey, Turkey Uncensored
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1520507629250-860b1635-f01a-8″ include=”98413,98412,98411,98410,98409,98408″][vc_column_text]The only online feminist news website in Turkey is marking International Women’s Day under state censorship. Access to the website of Diyarbakır-based Jin News (“Jin” meaning “woman” in Kurdish), which is entirely run by women and specifically focuses on news relating to women, was blocked seven times within just one week at the end of January. At present, the site is inaccessible from Turkey.
The pressure, however, hasn’t discouraged Jin News’ journalists. “We have always shown that we have alternatives, and we are continuing to show it,” Jin News Editor Beritan Elyakut told Index on Censorship. While relying on social media and the use of VPNs, Jin News announced a new TV channel to mark the symbolic day, which has a double significance for them. JINHA, the first news agency run by women in the entire country, was also established on an International Women’s Day six years ago.
Pressure was no stranger to them either: They were shut down not once but twice, more than any other news outlet in the country under the present state of emergency. First, JINHA was closed by decree in October 2016. Gazete Şujin, JINHA’s successor, was only allowed to exist for nine months before another decree ordered its closure in August 2017.
But still, from its ashes, Jin News was born, taking over JINHA’s legacy: a style of news writing that presents women “as subjects, not objects.” The site takes care to use conscientious language, such as using the word “murdered” instead of “killed” to emphasise male violence. They also avoid highlighting details that indirectly justify violence against women (by refusing, for example, to note that she was seeking a divorce) or providing unnecessary descriptive details in cases of sexual attack. Then there is the strict use of first names instead of family names – a practice adopted by the present article to provide a glimpse of their methodology.
“When covering women, we had to think until the smallest details. We chose not to employ the family name to break the perception that family lineage descended from men. If we say ‘Beritan Elyakut’ in the beginning of the article to introduce a person, we then use the name distinguishing that person as a subject,” Beritan said. Even the highest-ranking officials, including two former co-chairs of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) who are currently under arrest, Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, wouldn’t escape the rule.
This also meant a different approach in the choice of topics. “We don’t just cover news on sexual attack, sexual abuse or harassment. We started to cover stories reflecting women as strong individuals. We reported on pioneering women. We focused on economy and ecology. We made women visible in politics, highlighted them and gave them a voice,” Beritan said. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_icon icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-times” color=”black” background_style=”rounded” size=”xl” align=”right”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
“Our people know how to live under difficult situations. Kurdish women know how to resist. JINHA was closed, and Şujin was created. Şujin was closed and Jin News was created, which means we can reinvent ourselves over and over.”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Encouraging women to speak up
To ensure that women’s voices are not muted, Jin News uses exclusive testimonies and quotes from women in their reports. As she walks to the popular market of Bağlar in Diyarbakır, reporter Şehriban Aslan tells Index on Censorship that women’s reactions are always very positive when they introduce themselves as a Kurdish agency covering women.
Once she arrives at the market, Şehriban and her colleague, Rengin Azizoğlu, walk quietly as they search for women running stores. The subject is the destruction of a community health centre, which was turned into a police station by a government-appointed trustee after the municipality’s democratically elected co-mayors were thrown in jail.
The effect is immediate as they enter a gift shop. One of the vendors agrees to be interviewed. “There is this perception in society that a woman can’t work. You’ve broken it,” Şehriban tells her. “Absolutely,” the woman answers, without a flinch of hesitation. As the interview nears its end, Şehriban asks her if she has any messages to other women. “Women should absolutely work,” she says. “They shouldn’t submit to men.”
“Women feel comfortable and confident when they speak to us,” Şehriban says. “Being a Kurdish agency also helps.”
“Which outlet are you from?” a man asks her as she sneaks out of a shop. “We are the free media,” Şehriban says, using the expression that Kurds refer to their own media outlets. “Ah, you are more than welcome,” he replies.
Münevver Karademir, Jin News’ Kurdish-language editor, also stresses the importance of the encouragement factor. “When you give them confidence to express themselves, women embrace you,” Münevver says. “When you tell any shop vendor ‘I am an agency run by woman who works on the problems of women,’ her attitude becomes very different. She feels safe. She is able to tell you what she is going through.”
Jin News journalists are also eager to expand the know-how they are building with other outlets, especially male journalists. They have a project to prepare a dictionary on non-discriminatory news language. “We were planning to come together with men and organize training on ‘how to design a news story’ and ‘how to use women-friendly language in news articles’ but haven’t been able to due to the conditions [in the region],” Beritan says.
However, their mere presence has already started to raise some awareness. “Some journalists, men most of the time, ask us: ‘Would you check this story and see if we have used correct language?’ They now feel that concern,” she says. One of the most important successes for Beritan has been to show that women were more than capable of doing journalism – often better than men. “We saw that women were fast as well. But their speed also seeks to share a story in the best way possible. They were meticulous.”
Women journalist establish platform against pressure
According to Beritan, Jin News’ policy of collecting women’s voices alone was more successful in the east than the west of Turkey. This is the result of the strict “co-chair parity” policy launched by the HDP, which ensured that women assumed senior positions in Kurdish municipalities. However, after trustees occupied most HDP-led municipalities, Jin News not only lost its interlocutors – most trustees are men – but lost an important source of revenue. Indeed, many women co-chairs ensured that the municipality subscribed to their services and encouraged the agency’s activities.
Since the military crackdowns in urban centers in the region, journalists have become a target of state security agencies, and arrests and detentions have become common practices.
“The state wanted to seclude us at home through detentions. When that didn’t work, they tried to shut down the outlets entirely,” Beritan says as she learns that one of their reporters, Durket Süren, has been charged with “membership in and financing of a terrorist organisation” after being detained a few days earlier at a routine checkpoint. Durket was eventually released by a court but was subjected to a travel ban and ordered to sign in regularly at a police station.
Durket is hardly the only Jin News journalist facing criminal charges. Former JINHA reporter Zehra Doğan is currently serving a two-year, nine-month prison sentence for “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organisation.” She was convicted for publishing the testimony of a 10-year-old girl affected by the Turkish military operation on the town of Nusaybin in an article from December 2015. Also a painter, Zehra received jail time for “drawing Turkish flags on destroyed buildings” in a painting copied from a real photograph in which Turkish flags can be seen on buildings destroyed by Turkish forces. Beritan Canözer, the agency’s Istanbul reporter, and Aysel Işık have also served prison sentences. Many have been detained, and about 10 reporters are currently on trial. The agency also receives regular threats.
Ayşe Güney, a reporter for the Kurdish Mezopotamya Agency and spokeswoman for the Mezopotamya Women Journalists Platform, told Index on Censorship that state violence has become routine practice. “In a province like Şırnak, our reporters are constantly subjected to verbal harassment or threats. Many avoid going alone to villages or certain neighbourhoods. They are threatened, from being kidnapped to being abused or raped. Threats may be verbal for now, but there is a serious attempt to intimidate them,” she says.
The platform was established in 2017 on another symbolic day, May 3 Press Freedom Day, to ensure that women can fight together against common issues. Those include social issues – such as unemployment after the repeated closure of Diyarbakır-based Kurdish media outlets – but also against all kinds of violence. “Thanks to this association, we wanted to help our friends who are detained, arrested or subject to harassment from sources, attacked or abused by the police. We also wanted to make the pressure visible,” Ayşe says.
The latest woman journalist to be arrested by police is Seda Taşkın, who was reporting a story in the province of Muş. Seda was first released on probationary conditions, only to be arrested a month later in Ankara due to her reporting and tweets.
According to Ayşe, it is no coincidence that the women’s journalistic experiment began in Diyarbakır and not – as some might have expected – in Istanbul. “Our people know how to live under difficult situations. Kurdish women know how to resist. JINHA was closed, and Şujin was created. Şujin was closed and Jin News was created, which means we can reinvent ourselves over and over,” Ayşe says. “We are speaking here about women’s freedom and not gender equality. This is something that goes way beyond it.”
Ayşe also said she wished to make a call on all women journalists in Turkey to engage in solidarity. “There are almost no journalists here who haven’t had a trial opened against them. Either they have been in and out of prison or have to report at a police station every two or three or even five days. This means they can’t leave the city, which is becoming an open-air prison,” Ayşe says. “But it doesn’t happen only to Kurds anymore. It happens everywhere. So this is the time to act together.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”12″ style=”load-more” items_per_page=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1520507629256-32297f2b-810d-7″ taxonomies=”8607″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
