July 19, 2023

19.07.2023 – Turkey Tops List for Legal Harassment of Women Journalist

Turkey has been identified as having the highest rate of legal harassment against women journalists globally, as well as ranking second in the number of women journalists imprisoned, according to a recent report by the Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ). (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/615e9c03e618583383cc9786/t/64a680da1d3bca76310608f9/1688633574637/Q1+2023.pdf) The report highlights that the Turkish government frequently employs anti-terrorism charges to censor and persecute Kurdish women journalists. This pattern of targeting Kurdish women journalists has persisted for some time, and Turkey had previously topped the list in the first quarter of the previous year.

Turkey, following Iran, holds the second-highest number of incarcerated women journalists worldwide. As of 30 April 2023, the report indicates that there are 28 women journalists imprisoned in Iran, 19 in Turkey, and 15 in China.

Turkish government has cultivated an atmosphere of suspicion and lack of trust towards media professionals, especially those associated with international media organizations. This environment has facilitated the emergence of threats and acts of aggression against journalists and media outlets.

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