AZİZ ORUÇ
Melek Avcı, a journalist for JINNEWS, has been summoned to testify as part of an investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office over alleged “terror propaganda” related to her social media posts. After giving her statement on September 6, 2024, the indictment prepared against her was recently accepted by the Ankara 19th High Criminal Court.
Avcı, speaking to the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), revealed that the investigation was based on her social media posts from 2022 and 2023, specifically related to her work as a journalist. The posts in question included retweets of articles from JINNEWS, which focuses on women's rights and Kurdish issues, as well as political commentary shared by other reporters and politicians.
Avcı explained that the investigation focused on why she had shared certain news stories and why some of her articles included images of Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). She criticized the indictment for criminalizing her workplace and noted that the prosecutor handling her case was unaware of where she worked initially, yet proceeded with accusations based on her journalism.
The indictment against Avcı also includes accusations related to her reports on issues such as prison isolation, international organization statements, and the celebration of the Rojava Revolution, which refers to the Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria. Additionally, Avcı noted that she was questioned about sharing official statements made by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, a news report she shared referencing the Ministry’s statement on Öcalan's prison conditions and cooperation with the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) was part of the investigation. Avcı questioned how sharing a government statement could be framed as "terror propaganda."
“The absurdity of the situation was clear, as this official statement was presented to me during questioning, but it did not appear in the final indictment,” she said, expressing her frustration over the charges.
Avcı also highlighted that her posts condemning ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) were included in the indictment, with authorities questioning her stance against the group. “I was asked why I criticized ISIS, as if opposing a terrorist organization was itself a crime,” she remarked. One of the posts cited in the indictment was a message celebrating World Kobani Day, marking the Kurdish resistance against ISIS in the Syrian city of Kobani.
The indictment also portrays JINNEWS, the outlet where Avcı works, as an illegal organization. In response, Avcı defended her work and the organization, pointing out that millions of people in Turkey follow JINNEWS for news on women's rights, freedom of the press, and social justice. "You cannot label it illegal when it is a trusted source for so many people,” she said.
In defense of her journalism, Avcı argued that all the news stories and social media posts she shared were expressions of free speech, protected under both Turkish and international law. She emphasized that her work is based on reporting the truth about pressing issues, such as violence against women, poverty, war, and torture. “We are not scriptwriters; we are journalists. We chase after the truth. This is the reality of Turkey and the world, and we can’t distort it to please anyone,” she said.
Avcı's trial will be closely watched, as it raises significant concerns over freedom of expression and the role of independent journalism in Turkey, where the media environment has become increasingly restrictive in recent years.
