The Coalition For Women In Journalism has condemned the "unfounded charges" against journalists in Turkey and demanded their immediate release. The group's statement came after indictments were prepared into three journalists for reporting state violence.
The journalists were apprehended last year after their report on two Kurdish villagers named Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban, who were tortured and thrown from an army helicopter. Turgut succumbed to his injuries and died.
The journalists endured malicious behavior in prison, which violated human rights. During their 14-day quarantine, imposed as part of pandemic precautions, they were held in unhygienic conditions, their basic needs unmet. Despite the cold weather conditions in Van, the journalists were denied the necessities to stay warm," the group said.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the authorities recognize and reprimand crimes against humanity, rather than putting politically-polarized pressure on press freedom in the country.
Turkey also hit back at the United States on Thursday, after Washington called for Ankara to release jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala.
Turkish courts have refused to implement a 2019 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights to release Kavala. As a member state of the Council of Europe, the court’s rulings are binding on Turkey.
The US State Department urged Turkey to respect this ruling. After enjoying closer ties with former US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces renewed human rights pressure from Joe Biden’s administration.
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