Aslı Ceren Aslan (born 1990) is a Turkish journalist and editor of the leftist, pro-Kurdish newspaper Özgür Gelecek (Free Future). She was given a prison sentence of seven years in July 2020 on charges of association with the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Aslı Ceren Aslan | |
---|---|
Born | 1990 (age 33–34) |
Nationality | Turkish |
Occupation | Journalist |
Known for | Managing editor of Özgür Gelecek newspaper |
Aslan was born in 1990 in Istanbul. She studied mathematics in Çanakkale, before going to work for Özgür Gelecek, whose staff are 70% female. Aslan is also a feminist and LGBTI+ activist.[1]
Aslan was arrested in 2017 in the South Eastern Turkish province of Urfa, and was charged with "membership of a banned organisation", "terror propaganda" and "violation of the border".[2] According to ANFEnglish, "In custody, the then 27-year-old was insulted, beaten and subjected to two naked searches by Turkish security forces."[1] Istanbul's 14th Court for Serious Crimes sentenced Aslan to two years and six months in prison, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.[3]
Prosecutors alleged that specific articles published in Özgür Gelecek supported or spread propaganda for the PKK.[4] Aslan's attorney Kübra Gündüz told Bianet that no evidence was presented to support the claim that Aslan had been a member of the PKK.[5]
ANFEnglish commented on Aslan's sentencing that "state repression... is part of the everyday life of critical journalists in Turkey. According to a report by the Journalists' Association DFG (Dicle Fırat Gazeteciler Derneği), at least 97 journalists are currently in Turkish prisons (as of June 30, 2020)."[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Prison sentence for journalist Aslı Ceren Aslan confirmed". ANF News. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ TurkeyPurge. "aslı ceren aslan | Turkey Purge". Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ SCF (2017-02-22). "Journalist Aslı Ceren Aslan arrested in Şanlıurfa". Stockholm Center for Freedom. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ "Aslı Ceren Aslan". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ BIA News Desk. "Journalist Aslı Ceren Aslan Arrested in Urfa". Bianet. Archived from the original on 2017-02-26. Retrieved 14 July 2020.